Maurer was born in Biebrich, Germany in 1832 and immegrated to the United States in 1851. In 1852 he joined Currier and Ives as a lithographer and worked with the frim until 1860. He founded his own firm Heppenheimer & Maurer and worked there until he retired in 1884. He was the last surviving person to have worked for Currier and Ives and was heavily interviewed for the book "Currier & Ives, Printmakers to the American People." He died in 1832.