Hugh McElroy LaRue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hugh McElroy LaRue
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| 25th Speaker of the California State Assembly | |
| In office January 1883–May 1884 |
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| Preceded by | William H. Parks |
| Succeeded by | William H. Parks |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 18th district |
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| In office 1883 - 1885 |
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| Sheriff of Sacramento County | |
| In office 1873–1875 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Bryte |
| Succeeded by | M.M. Drew |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hugh McElroy LaRue
August 12, 1830 Elizabethtown, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 1906 (age 76) Davis, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Occupation | Sheriff, rancher, farmer, railroad commissioner, politician |
| Known for | Pioneer of Sacramento, California |
Hugh McElroy LaRue (1830–1906) was an important pioneer in California. He was a member of the well-known LaRue family from Kentucky, USA. Hugh helped settle and develop parts of California during its early days.
Contents
A Pioneer's Journey
Hugh was born on August 12, 1830, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. His parents were Sarah Cummings and Jacob Hodgen LaRue. When Hugh was about nine years old, his family moved west. They settled in Lewis County, Missouri. This area was mostly wilderness at the time.
Hugh soon began to dream of moving his own family to California. In the spring of 1849, he joined a group heading west. This was before many people in Lewis County knew about the California Gold Rush. The group traveled across the Great Plains using the Oregon Trail.
The expedition was led by V. A. Sublette and Dr. Conduitt. Hugh and the others gathered supplies for their long trip. They crossed the Missouri River in Boonville. Then they started their journey from Independence on April 29, 1849.
Their route followed the Platte River and went through South Pass. They then took Sublette's cut-off and continued on the Oregon Trail. Near the end of their journey, they reached the Truckee River. This river was a very difficult obstacle to cross. The land around it was so rough that they had to cross the river 27 times within 30 miles. The long journey finally ended on Hugh's birthday, August 12, 1849. They arrived at the Bear River Mines in Steep Hollow, California.
Life in Early California
Hugh spent the next few years working in different jobs. He worked in the mines and on various ranches. He also delivered groceries to settlers in Shasta. For a short time, he managed a small restaurant. He also worked as a blacksmith in Sacramento.
However, a serious illness spread through the city. This made Hugh decide to move out of Sacramento. He then started a career in agriculture. He began growing many different kinds of crops.
Ranching and Family Life
Hugh's orchards were very successful. This allowed him to expand his business. He started raising horses and cattle. Over time, Hugh bought hundreds of acres of land. His land was in Sacramento and in Yolo County.
He built a house in Sacramento, but he preferred living on his ranch. In 1858, Hugh married Elizabeth M. Lizenby from Kentucky. They had five children together: four boys and one girl.
Public Service and Politics
Hugh McElroy LaRue was very active in politics. He was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. In 1857, he ran for sheriff of Sacramento County. He won the election by only eight votes. However, he lost the position due to a problem in the courts.
Sheriff of Sacramento County
Years later, in 1873, Hugh was elected sheriff again. He served in this role for the next two years. As sheriff, Hugh handled important legal cases. He was responsible for upholding the law and making sure justice was served in serious situations.
State Assembly and Beyond
After being sheriff, Hugh became a member of the California State Assembly. He also served as the Speaker of the Assembly. This meant he was the leader of that part of the state government. He was also the president of the State Agricultural Society.
In 1888, he ran for state senator but was not elected. A few years later, he was chosen as a railroad commissioner for Northern California. He served as the president of the railroad board for four years.
Later Years
Hugh was also a member of the local Masonic Lodge. He was part of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers. He served as president of this society for a few years. Hugh McElroy LaRue passed away in 1906. He is buried in the Masonic Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento.
See also
