Gaylor Rouse was born in Watertown, New York, January 1,
1842, the son of Collins and Dolly Rouse, both of whom were
descendants from old eastern families. In 1858 he entered the
academy at Belleville, Jefferson County, New York, from which
he was graduated in 1862. Immediately afterward he enlisted as
a private in the Union Army, Company G, New York Heavy
Artillery. He was sent at once to the front, where he saw what
war was from the angle of most active service. His record was a
brilliant one, for he was promoted to a lieutenantcy and served
on the brigadier staff as assistant inspector general until the
close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He
immediately went to Washington, D. C., where he was needed
as a clerk in the War Denartment. He served here until 1868,
when he concluded that mercantile life would be a better outlet
for his energies, now the war was over. So he resigned.
He left Washington, going to Philadelphia, in New York State,
where he opened a retail merchandise store and where he
proved that he was in the right field. He remained there, highly
successful, until 1878, when a desire for a more desirable
scene of action brought him to California. He located first in
Antioch, Contra Costa County, where he conducted another
successful dry goods -store. It was in that city, in August of the
following year, that he was united in wedlock with Mrs. A. R.
Jessup. By a marriage contracted in the State of New York, Mr.
Rouse is the father of one son, Charles G. Rouse, who is
connected with the Riverside firm as vice president.
After spending eight productive years in the town of Antioch Mr.
Rouse was attracted to Santa Barbara, where he ope'ned an
exclusive men's clothing store. This city held him just three
years, when its beauty and charm (and a desire to have a
permanent home and a permanent business) brought him to
Riverside. With his keen perception it did not take him long to
determine that here was the opportunity and the home he had
been seeking. The second year of his advent here Mr. Rouse
organized the stock company of which he is president and his
son vice president. That he was more than justified in his faith
in the possibilities lying dormant here, waiting for some one with
the vision to understand and the self confidence to initiate, is
evidenced by the concrete symbol, the department store of G.
Rouse & Company. It is second to none in the county in its line,
that of varied furnishings for women and men.
Of the social side of his life it can truthfully be said that "Those
who know him best, love and honor him most." He is often
affectionately alluded to in public print and speech as "The
grand old business man of Riverside." And such he is, for he is
an upholder of the best traditions as applied to his daily life,
and at the same time his progressive, live ideas for the civic
good of the city have always been manifested in no uncertain
way, his loyalty as a citizen always a factor to be counted upon
as one absolutely dependable.
Mr. Rouse is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of
the Loyal Legion and is a Knight Templar Mason. He is in
religious faith an Episcopalian.
1842, the son of Collins and Dolly Rouse, both of whom were
descendants from old eastern families. In 1858 he entered the
academy at Belleville, Jefferson County, New York, from which
he was graduated in 1862. Immediately afterward he enlisted as
a private in the Union Army, Company G, New York Heavy
Artillery. He was sent at once to the front, where he saw what
war was from the angle of most active service. His record was a
brilliant one, for he was promoted to a lieutenantcy and served
on the brigadier staff as assistant inspector general until the
close of the war, when he was honorably discharged. He
immediately went to Washington, D. C., where he was needed
as a clerk in the War Denartment. He served here until 1868,
when he concluded that mercantile life would be a better outlet
for his energies, now the war was over. So he resigned.
He left Washington, going to Philadelphia, in New York State,
where he opened a retail merchandise store and where he
proved that he was in the right field. He remained there, highly
successful, until 1878, when a desire for a more desirable
scene of action brought him to California. He located first in
Antioch, Contra Costa County, where he conducted another
successful dry goods -store. It was in that city, in August of the
following year, that he was united in wedlock with Mrs. A. R.
Jessup. By a marriage contracted in the State of New York, Mr.
Rouse is the father of one son, Charles G. Rouse, who is
connected with the Riverside firm as vice president.
After spending eight productive years in the town of Antioch Mr.
Rouse was attracted to Santa Barbara, where he ope'ned an
exclusive men's clothing store. This city held him just three
years, when its beauty and charm (and a desire to have a
permanent home and a permanent business) brought him to
Riverside. With his keen perception it did not take him long to
determine that here was the opportunity and the home he had
been seeking. The second year of his advent here Mr. Rouse
organized the stock company of which he is president and his
son vice president. That he was more than justified in his faith
in the possibilities lying dormant here, waiting for some one with
the vision to understand and the self confidence to initiate, is
evidenced by the concrete symbol, the department store of G.
Rouse & Company. It is second to none in the county in its line,
that of varied furnishings for women and men.
Of the social side of his life it can truthfully be said that "Those
who know him best, love and honor him most." He is often
affectionately alluded to in public print and speech as "The
grand old business man of Riverside." And such he is, for he is
an upholder of the best traditions as applied to his daily life,
and at the same time his progressive, live ideas for the civic
good of the city have always been manifested in no uncertain
way, his loyalty as a citizen always a factor to be counted upon
as one absolutely dependable.
Mr. Rouse is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of
the Loyal Legion and is a Knight Templar Mason. He is in
religious faith an Episcopalian.
| SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES BY JOHN BROWN, Jr. Editor for San Bernardino County AND JAMES BOYD Editor for Riverside County WITH Selected Biography of Actors and Witnesses of the Period of Growth and Achievement VOLUME II THE WESTERN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION |