Daniel Rouzer was born April 4, 1767, in Amwell Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey, the son of Martin and Sarah Graff Rouzer/Rauscher. Around the time of the American Revolution, the family migrated to the State of Maryland. Daniel was apprenticed to Jacob Sellman of Frederick City, Frederick County, Maryland, to learn the tanning business, and upon completion of his apprenticeship, he secured work in Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland. He then returned to Mechanicstown (Thurmont) Frederick County, Maryland in 1798. He purchased land where he owned and operated a tannery. Daniel was married twice. His first marriage was to Maria Sophia Schober/Schover/Shover, September 27, 1791, in Hagerstown. She was the daughter of (Georg) Peter Schober and Maria Sophia Ambrose Schober. She passed away in 1810, leaving Daniel with 10 children. After her death, he married Julianna Mathews in December of 1813, with whom he had 3 additional children. Daniel's children from his marriage to Maria Sophia Schober were: Peter Rouzer, married Rachel Hope Martin; Catharine Rouzer, married William Hiteshew; Jacob Rouzer, married Rebecca Miller; Sophia Rouzer, married Peter Warrenfeltz; Daniel Rouzer, Jr., married Mary Jane Miller; Sarah Rouzer who remained single; Lydia Rouzer, married George Kellenberger and went to Ohio; Martin Rouzer, married Rosannah Gernand; Henry Rouzer, married Catharine Schlosser; and Elizabeth Rouzer, married William Ott and went to Illinois. The children of his marriage to Juliana Matthews were: John Rouzer, first marriage Phebe Key Landers, second Emma Katherine Parrish; Maria Elizabeth Rouzer, died in childhood; and Sarah Ann Rouzer, married William C. Landers. Daniel also had a son with Rebecca "Peky" Krieger, Joel Rouzer, married Margaret Jane Rightly. It is not known if Daniel and Rebecca were married or not, as no marriage record has been found. Daniel was baptized on December 19, 1795, at Apple's Church, Thurmont, Frederick County, Maryland. He passed away August 18, 1850, in Thurmont, and was buried at Apple's Church Cemetery there.


From the Family Bible of Daniel Rouzer, dated September 27, 1791:

children with wife Sovia (sic):
Petter b. 01 Nov, 1792
Catharina b. 10 Aug, 1794
Jacob b. 29 Nov, 1795
Sophia b. 21 Sep, 1797
Sahra b. 03 Jan, 1799
Daniel b. 08 Jan, 1801
Liedia b. 03 Nov, 1802
Martin b. 08 Jul, 1804
Hennrich b. 27 Jul, 1806
Elisabetha b. 05 Nov, 1808
(children with wife Julianna:)
Johannes b. 25 Nov, 1815; d. 01 Jan 1894
Eliza b. 29 Apr, 1817
Sarahann b. 09 Aug, 1819; bp. 29 Aug, 1819; d. 04 Mar, 1885


Following biography was probably written by one of Van Buren Osler's daughters, on stationery headed 917 Diamond Park, Meadville, Pa.:

"The Rouzer family came from Germany early in the 18th century (exact date unknown) and settled in New Jersey. The large quantities of black oak and other bark best suited to tanning in Frederick County, Maryland induced quite a number of persons to emigrate there, [the father of Daniel Rouzer, Sr.] being among them. As all were mechanics of some kind or another, the former name of our town, Mechanicstown, is credited to them. [Daniel Rouzer, Sr.] was born in the vicinity of Rocky Ridge in 1766. He was apprenticed to Jacob Sellman of Frederick City to learn the tanning business, and upon completion of his apprenticeship, secured work in Hagerstown. He then returned to Frederick County and purchased the land where great uncle John Rouzer's tannery stood in our day, erected buildings and commenced business for himself. On 17 Sept. 1791 he married Miss Sophia Stover (sic--should read Shover), whose parents owned the place known to us as Payne's Hill Farm. Had ten children, who, save two or three, lived to be upwards of 80 years old, are buried in Apples Church Graveyard. His first wife died in 1810 (can you blame her? 10 children in 19 years), and in 1813 he married Miss Matthews, by whom he had three children. Daniel Rouzer was a poor man when he first settled in Frederick County, but by careful attention to business, hard work and economy he died in 1850 leaving an estate valued at $62,000. The next paragraph is quoted from The Clarion: 'It is said that his son Henry inherited many of his qualities, while the whole family are characterized by their lack of show and modest way of living. Many offices of trust and honor might have been filled by them, but all preferred to follow their legitimate calling.'"


From History of Western Maryland, by Sharf, p. 630-631:

"Rouzer's Tannery.---The father of Mr. Rouzer, the present proprietor of Rouzer's Tannery, was almost wholly without capital, and began with but a few facilities and many obstacles to combat. Such, however, was his energy and tact that his business has enlarged and improved, until now the son of its founder owns and conducts one of the most important industries of Western Maryland. On the fine farm on which the tannery is located Mr. Rouzer was born and raised. The tannery has a capacity of five thousand to six thousand finished sides per annum. This tannery suffered the misfortune of being burnt down in November, 1853, but was promptly rebuilt the same year. The buildings now consist of the main house, two bark-sheds, two wagon-sheds, and a scale-house, all in good order. A switch belonging to the establishment runs to the Western Maryland Railroad, and affords ample facilities for shipping and receiving goods. Most of the hides tanned come from Texas, though some are received from South America, and the market being almost wholly in Baltimore, only a few are retailed within the county. The bark used comes from Fairfield and Cashtown, in Pennsylvania.
"John Rouzer, one of the leading tanners of Western Maryland, was born Nov. 25, 1815, upon the property now occupied as his home, the fine residence he occupies having been built by his father in 1812. His father, Daniel, born in New Jersey in 1766, came to Maryland while a lad, and worked as an apprentice at the tanning business in Hagerstown and Frederick. At the age of twenty-seven---that is to say, in 1793---he made upon the present Rouzer place, near Mechanicstown, a start as a tanner on his own account. He was married twice. His first wife was Sophia, daughter of Peter Shover, one of Frederick County's early settlers. By that marriage there were ten children. The only one living is Henry Rouzer, of Mechanicstown, born in 1806. Sophia Rouzer died in 1810, and in 1814 Mr. Rouzer took a second helpmate in Julia, daughter of John Matthews, of Frederick County. She was born in 1779. Of the second marriage there were but three children, ---John, born 1815; Eliza, born 1817; Sarah Ann, born 1819. John and Sarah Ann are still living. Daniel Rouzer was more or less actively engaged in tanning until his death, Aug. 18, 1850, aged eighty-four. His widow followed him four years later, Aug. 19, 1854..."


1798 Frederick County Tax Assessment District 7 (Upper and Middle Monocacy):

"Rouser, Daniel, pt. 'Bucks Horn' 178 acres, Daniel Eichenbrode, new tan house; pt. 'Mountain Tract' res. and called 'Rowser's Addition' 118 acres of George Colbert."


From Frederick County Indentures:

30 Nov. 1805--Justice of the Peace binds Charles Elder, an orphan age 16y 6m on 10th instant, to Daniel Rouzer, tanner and currier, to age 21. Wit.: Henry Williams, Jno. Huston.

26 Feb. 1807--John Freland, a black man, for $340 binds himself to Daniel Routzer (sic) as a servant for 6 yrs. 6 mos. from next 2 March. Wit.: Peter Shover, Jno. Huston.

15 Sept. 1807--Joseph Little binds his son John Little to Daniel Rowzer (sic), tanner and currier, for 3 yrs. Wit.: Jacob Beard, Andrew Willyard.