For many years Daniel M. Rouzer, now deceased, was a prominent and influential citizen of Miami county, and his name is deeply engraved on its records on account of the active part which he has taken in public affairs. In every land and every clime respect is accorded those whose sterling virtues are manifest in their daily careers, who are straightforward in business and trustworthy in social and public life. It was these qualities which gained for Mr. Rouzer the esteem of his fellow men and made him one of the representative residents of Tippecanoe City.

He was born on a farm in Greene county, Ohio, March 28, 1818, and was a son of John and Elizabeth (Martin) Rouzer, in whose family were the following children: Henry, Sarah, Jackson, Daniel, Ella, John, Eliza, Cyrus, Martin, Daniel and Elizabeth. When he was about twelve or fourteen years of age Mr. Rouzer, of this review, accompanied his father on his removal to Dayton. There he began earning his own livelihood, working at any occupation that would yield to him an honest living. When a young man he learned the wheelwright's trade under the direction of Mr. Morrison, of Dayton, and followed that pursuit until 1852, when, in company with David Johnson and David Young, he started for California. They made the journey by way of the isthmus of Panama, and while on that little neck of land that connects the two American continents Mr. Rouzer built a warehouse and carried on business for six months. Later he went to California, where he was engaged in prospecting and mining, meeting with excellent success in his work. He made the return trip by way of the water route and after landing at New York was taken ill with typhoid fever, but after his recovery ho returned to Dayton. In 1854 he came to Tippecanoe City, where, under contract, he built the Smith distillery, in 1855. In company with George and Edward Smith, he engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil, and later they admitted Mr. Grimes to a partnership in the business. To this enterprise Mr. Rouzer devoted his time and attention until the breaking out of the civil war, when he put aside all personal considerations in order to respond to his country's call for troops.

Mr. Rouzer took a prominent part in the organization of the Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry, and on the 15 of August, 1861, he received a commission as captain of Company E. With his command he went to Springfield, Ohio, and then to Camp Pyatt, West Virginia. For two years he gallantly aided in the defense of the Union, serving in West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Soon after going to Kentucky he was transferred to the Eighth Ohio Mounted Cavalry and served with that command until discharged. Returning from the war, Mr. Rouzer located in Tippecanoe City, where he engaged in the operation of an elevator, purchasing and selling grain. He also conducted a grocery store in connection with his other interests until 1868, when he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he engaged in business with his brother, John, as a contractor and builder. They erected the Springfield court house, also the Greenville court house, and were very successful in their business, taking contracts for the erection of many of the finest structures in their section of the state. These still stand as monuments to the thrift, enterprise and ability of the firm. In 1873, however, Mr. Rouzer sold his interest to his brother and returned to Tippecanoe City, where he conducted a hardware store until 1877, when he was succeeded by Mr. Fuller. From that time until his death he was not burdened by business cares, save the management of his property interests. He had made judicious investments in real estate and was the owner of valuable farming lands.

On the 22d of May, 1856, Mr. Rouzer was married to Miss Mary Grow, who was born near Covington, Miami county, a daughter of Michael and Salome (Shellabarger) Grow, who were natives of Pennsylvania, in which state they were reared and married. In the early '30s they came to Ohio, making the trip by team and taking up their residence in Newton township, where the father purchased eighty acres of wild land, upon which he erected a log cabin. He began the development of his farm and in course of time rich harvests rewarded his labors. He lived upon the farm until his death, which occurred in 1841. His wife died in July, 1838. In their family were three children: Samuel; Catherine, who died at the age of eighteen years, and Mrs. Rouzer. After her father's death she went to live with her grandparents, who owned Clark's island. By her marriage she became the mother of four children: Wade, who died at the age of three years; Jennie, wife of G. S. Dunn, of Syracuse, Nebraska, who has four children, Thomas, George, Parke and Goldine; Louie B., who became the wife of O. P. Face, and died at the age of twenty-one years; and Park, who died at the age of thirty-two years, while living in Lima, Ohio, where he had charge of the fuel supply of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad.

In public affairs Mr. Rouzer took a deep and active interest and it was always known that his support would be given to all measures calculated to prove a public benefit. He was a Republican in his political views and was frequently called to official positions, serving as a trustee of Monroe township, as a member of the town council of Tippecanoe City, as a member of the school board and as county commissioner, filling the last named position for six years. He discharged his duties with promptness, fidelity and ability, and over the record of his life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. The position which he occupies in the public's regard is shown by the fact that when the Grand Army Post was organized in Tippecanoe City, his comrades of the "blue" named it in his honor. He won the unqualified confidence of all those with whom he came in contact in public life, and through his social qualities, his genial manner, his kindness and unfailing courtesy he gained the warm friendship of a very large circle of acquaintances.