Named for Dezaret W. Rouse, a native of Utah who arrived in this general area in the early 1880’s. He was a homesteader in Blackburn Canyon, gold miner (he filed on 11 locations during the years 1883 to 1888), farmer and beekeeper. He is known to have been associated with a neighbor S. H. Meek in a joint filing for rights to conduct water in Baptiste Canyon to their homesteads (1886). Together with John Rouse, he located mining claims. in a mountainous area above Bautista Creek, five miles north of his home (1900). He finally abandoned his homestead and claims. Rouse Canyon also bears his name.