RICHARD A. ROUSE. Many of the farmers of Baxter County, Arkansas, have led such quiet, unobtrusive lives as to be seldom heard of outside of their own township. They are doing fine work in their own community, but do not care to come more prominently before the public, and devote all their time and energies to the cultivation of their farms and the development of the resources of their community. Such men deserve more credit than they ordinarily receive, and we are glad here to present one of them in the person of Richard A. Rouse, who is one of the prominent and worthy citizens of Baxter County, and has a fine farm in Buck Horn Township. He is a native of Crawford County, Indiana, where he was born January 20, 1842, a son of Granville and Ray Jane (White) Rouse, who were Kentuckians by birth, the former a native of Boone County. The father was a son of Moses Rouse and he a son of Michael Rouse. Being of a rather roving disposition he successively moved from Kentucky to Crawford County, Indiana, then to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he remained one year, then went back to Crawford County, Indiana, where his wife died. Soon after the death of his wife, in order to have his three children cared for, he returned to his father in Bullitt County, Kentucky, where he was married to Byronette Owens (who is now also dead). To their union was given one son, John G. He then moved to Daviess County, Kentucky, but is now residing in McLean County, Kentucky, with his son, John G. He also for a time lived in De Soto, Jackson County, Illinois While in the last mentioned place he was engaged in the manufacture of brick, but throughout his long life of four-score years he has followed various occupations.
The subject of this sketch was his father’s manager while the latter was engaged in the brick business and he also for some time had control of a store which his father owned. In the fall of 1859 he moved with his father to Daviess County, Kentucky, thence to McLean County, Kentucky, where he was married to Louisa Wells February 9, 1865, who was born in Bullitt County, Kentucky, April 21, 1843, and to their union eight sons and two daughters have been given, all of whom are now living: Edward, the first son, was born in McLean County, Kentucky, November 6, 1866, is still single and at home with his father and has an interest in the mill and gin; Artis W., second son, is married and has two children (son and daughter); Zalmond G., third son, is also married; Genis Ord, fourth son; Richard A., Jr., fifth son; Louisa, first daughter; Minie B., second daughter; Columbus B., sixth son; Granville T., seventh son, and Albert, eighth son. During the progress of the Civil War Mr. Rouse resided in Kentucky and Spencer County, Indiana After the war was over he returned to Kentucky and took up his residence in McLean County. He continued to make his home there until 1885, when he moved to Baxter County, Arkansas, and located in Barren Creek Township. Two years later he came to Buck Horn Township, where he has 300 acres of the finest upland of the county and seven acres in his mill and residence property. He also owns a small farm in North Fork Township. In 1888 he erected a saw mill, cotton gin and grist mill, and is now successfully engaged in operating them and attending to the management of his large farm. He and his wife and five children are members of the Christian Church, with which he has been connected since 1862, and he is now holding the office of elder in the same. He is a useful, law-abiding citizen, upright and honorable in every respect, and as a natural consequence his friends are many.