Hugh McElroy LaRue was a California pioneer and member of the LaRue Family of Kentucky. Born in 1830 to Sarah Cummings and Jacob Hodgen LaRue, around the age of nine his family moved to Lewis County, Missouri, which was then located on the western edge of civilization and still largely inhabited by wild Indians. Hugh spoke of crossing the Great Plains to settle in California when he was as young as fifteen. In the spring of 1849, just before news of the discovery of gold in California had arrived in his part of Missouri, he joined an expedition to the new American state that was headed by V. A. Sublette and Dr. Conduitt. After gathering provisions for the long journey, the expedition crossed the Missouri River at Boonville and started from Independence on April 29, 1849. The route they followed took them along the Platte River and through South Pass, thence via Sublette's cut-off and the Oregon Trail. As they neared their destination they came to the Truckee River, which they had to cross twenty-seven times within thirty miles. The journey came to an end on August 12, 1849, when the party reached the Bear River Mines at Steep Hollow, California.
After doing a little bit of mining in Steep Hollow and in nearby Grass Valley, Nevada, Hugh and a few others built one of the first log cabins in what is now Oleta, Amador County, California. From Oleta Hugh went to Willow Springs, four miles west of Drytown, and bought a small restaurant, which he operated until early March 1850. Following a short stay in Marysville, in the spring of 1850 he made a trading expedition to Shasta with groceries and provisions, which he sold from the back of a wagon to merchants and miners. After making a second trip to Shasta, in June 1850 LaRue went to Sacramento and became a blacksmith and wagonmaker. However, a cholera epidemic that year convinced him to seek other employment, so he then rented a part of the Rancho del Paso, owned by Samuel Norris, where he first raised vegetables and later grain. In 1857, Hugh planted his first orchard, mostly peaches, and in spite of setbacks caused by the floods of 1861-62 and 1868, he was remarkably successful. He married Miss Elizaberth M. Lizenby in 1858 and eventually had five children with her, including four sons and a daughter. In 1866, Hugh purchased about nine hundred acres of ranch land in Yolo County and to this he added from time to time until it spanned two thousand acres. After the floods of 1868 he sold his interest in the Rancho del Paso and devoted himself to the management of his Yolo property. Hugh made his home in Sacramento so that his children would have the certain advantages that came with life in town, but he spent much of his time on the ranch, raising cattle, horses and crops of all kinds. After several years managing the ranch, he put his son Jacob Eugene LaRue in charge of it while another son, Calhoun Lee LaRue, was put in charge of a 140 acre vineyard in Yountville, which Hugh had purchased in 1885.
Hugh was active in politics and was "staunchly Democratic." He first ran for sheriff of Sacramento County in 1857 and was elected by about eight votes, but the case was contested in the courts and he lost the office. In 1873, however, Hugh was again elected sheriff of Sacramento County by a large majority and he served for the next few years. He was involved in a few notable murder cases and even presided over the hangings of some of the murderers. As representative of the second congressional district, in 1879 he served as a member of the state constitutional convention. During his legislative career he was a supporter of the bill for the erection of the exposition building of the State Agricultural Association; also supported the revision of the general railroad laws, the county government act, the bill reorganizing the senatorial and assembly districts and the laws relating to taxes. In 1888 he was the Democratic candidate for senator and, though not elected, had the satisfaction of running ahead of his ticket. Between 1883 and 1884 he was a member of the lower house of the state legislature and honorably served as speaker during both sessions. Hugh was the director of the State Agricultural Association for twenty years and later served as its president. In 1894, Hugh was elected railroad commissioner from Northern California and served as president of the board for four years. He was also a Royal Arch Mason and had been a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers since 1856. He was later put on the board of trustees and served as the president of the organization for a few years in the early 1900s, just before his death in 1906.
Sources:
1) "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California" by J. M. Guinn, pg. 385-387 Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago 1906.
2) "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California: Including Biographies of Many of Those who Have Passed Away" Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, California 1901
After doing a little bit of mining in Steep Hollow and in nearby Grass Valley, Nevada, Hugh and a few others built one of the first log cabins in what is now Oleta, Amador County, California. From Oleta Hugh went to Willow Springs, four miles west of Drytown, and bought a small restaurant, which he operated until early March 1850. Following a short stay in Marysville, in the spring of 1850 he made a trading expedition to Shasta with groceries and provisions, which he sold from the back of a wagon to merchants and miners. After making a second trip to Shasta, in June 1850 LaRue went to Sacramento and became a blacksmith and wagonmaker. However, a cholera epidemic that year convinced him to seek other employment, so he then rented a part of the Rancho del Paso, owned by Samuel Norris, where he first raised vegetables and later grain. In 1857, Hugh planted his first orchard, mostly peaches, and in spite of setbacks caused by the floods of 1861-62 and 1868, he was remarkably successful. He married Miss Elizaberth M. Lizenby in 1858 and eventually had five children with her, including four sons and a daughter. In 1866, Hugh purchased about nine hundred acres of ranch land in Yolo County and to this he added from time to time until it spanned two thousand acres. After the floods of 1868 he sold his interest in the Rancho del Paso and devoted himself to the management of his Yolo property. Hugh made his home in Sacramento so that his children would have the certain advantages that came with life in town, but he spent much of his time on the ranch, raising cattle, horses and crops of all kinds. After several years managing the ranch, he put his son Jacob Eugene LaRue in charge of it while another son, Calhoun Lee LaRue, was put in charge of a 140 acre vineyard in Yountville, which Hugh had purchased in 1885.
Hugh was active in politics and was "staunchly Democratic." He first ran for sheriff of Sacramento County in 1857 and was elected by about eight votes, but the case was contested in the courts and he lost the office. In 1873, however, Hugh was again elected sheriff of Sacramento County by a large majority and he served for the next few years. He was involved in a few notable murder cases and even presided over the hangings of some of the murderers. As representative of the second congressional district, in 1879 he served as a member of the state constitutional convention. During his legislative career he was a supporter of the bill for the erection of the exposition building of the State Agricultural Association; also supported the revision of the general railroad laws, the county government act, the bill reorganizing the senatorial and assembly districts and the laws relating to taxes. In 1888 he was the Democratic candidate for senator and, though not elected, had the satisfaction of running ahead of his ticket. Between 1883 and 1884 he was a member of the lower house of the state legislature and honorably served as speaker during both sessions. Hugh was the director of the State Agricultural Association for twenty years and later served as its president. In 1894, Hugh was elected railroad commissioner from Northern California and served as president of the board for four years. He was also a Royal Arch Mason and had been a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers since 1856. He was later put on the board of trustees and served as the president of the organization for a few years in the early 1900s, just before his death in 1906.
Sources:
1) "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California" by J. M. Guinn, pg. 385-387 Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago 1906.
2) "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California: Including Biographies of Many of Those who Have Passed Away" Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, California 1901
Hugh McElroy LaRue was a California pioneer and member of the LaRue Family of Kentucky. Born in 1830 to Sarah Cummings and Jacob Hodgen LaRue, around the age of nine his family moved to Lewis County, Missouri, which was then located on the western edge of civilization and still largely inhabited by wild Indians. Hugh spoke of crossing the Great Plains to settle in California when he was as young as fifteen. In the spring of 1849, just before news of the discovery of gold in California had arrived in his part of Missouri, he joined an expedition to the new American state that was headed by V. A. Sublette and Dr. Conduitt. After gathering provisions for the long journey, the expedition crossed the Missouri River at Boonville and started from Independence on April 29, 1849. The route they followed took them along the Platte River and through South Pass, thence via Sublette's cut-off and the Oregon Trail. As they neared their destination they came to the Truckee River, which they had to cross twenty-seven times within thirty miles. The journey came to an end on August 12, 1849, when the party reached the Bear River Mines at Steep Hollow, California.
After doing a little bit of mining in Steep Hollow and in nearby Grass Valley, Nevada, Hugh and a few others built one of the first log cabins in what is now Oleta, Amador County, California. From Oleta Hugh went to Willow Springs, four miles west of Drytown, and bought a small restaurant, which he operated until early March 1850. Following a short stay in Marysville, in the spring of 1850 he made a trading expedition to Shasta with groceries and provisions, which he sold from the back of a wagon to merchants and miners. After making a second trip to Shasta, in June 1850 LaRue went to Sacramento and became a blacksmith and wagonmaker. However, a cholera epidemic that year convinced him to seek other employment, so he then rented a part of the Rancho del Paso, owned by Samuel Norris, where he first raised vegetables and later grain. In 1857, Hugh planted his first orchard, mostly peaches, and in spite of setbacks caused by the floods of 1861-62 and 1868, he was remarkably successful. He married Miss Elizaberth M. Lizenby in 1858 and eventually had five children with her, including four sons and a daughter. In 1866, Hugh purchased about nine hundred acres of ranch land in Yolo County and to this he added from time to time until it spanned two thousand acres. After the floods of 1868 he sold his interest in the Rancho del Paso and devoted himself to the management of his Yolo property. Hugh made his home in Sacramento so that his children would have the certain advantages that came with life in town, but he spent much of his time on the ranch, raising cattle, horses and crops of all kinds. After several years managing the ranch, he put his son Jacob Eugene LaRue in charge of it while another son, Calhoun Lee LaRue, was put in charge of a 140 acre vineyard in Yountville, which Hugh had purchased in 1885.
Hugh was active in politics and was "staunchly Democratic." He first ran for sheriff of Sacramento County in 1857 and was elected by about eight votes, but the case was contested in the courts and he lost the office. In 1873, however, Hugh was again elected sheriff of Sacramento County by a large majority and he served for the next few years. He was involved in a few notable murder cases and even presided over the hangings of some of the murderers. As representative of the second congressional district, in 1879 he served as a member of the state constitutional convention. During his legislative career he was a supporter of the bill for the erection of the exposition building of the State Agricultural Association; also supported the revision of the general railroad laws, the county government act, the bill reorganizing the senatorial and assembly districts and the laws relating to taxes. In 1888 he was the Democratic candidate for senator and, though not elected, had the satisfaction of running ahead of his ticket. Between 1883 and 1884 he was a member of the lower house of the state legislature and honorably served as speaker during both sessions. Hugh was the director of the State Agricultural Association for twenty years and later served as its president. In 1894, Hugh was elected railroad commissioner from Northern California and served as president of the board for four years. He was also a Royal Arch Mason and had been a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers since 1856. He was later put on the board of trustees and served as the president of the organization for a few years in the early 1900s, just before his death in 1906.
Sources:
1) "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California" by J. M. Guinn, pg. 385-387 Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago 1906.
2) "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California: Including Biographies of Many of Those who Have Passed Away" Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, California 1901
After doing a little bit of mining in Steep Hollow and in nearby Grass Valley, Nevada, Hugh and a few others built one of the first log cabins in what is now Oleta, Amador County, California. From Oleta Hugh went to Willow Springs, four miles west of Drytown, and bought a small restaurant, which he operated until early March 1850. Following a short stay in Marysville, in the spring of 1850 he made a trading expedition to Shasta with groceries and provisions, which he sold from the back of a wagon to merchants and miners. After making a second trip to Shasta, in June 1850 LaRue went to Sacramento and became a blacksmith and wagonmaker. However, a cholera epidemic that year convinced him to seek other employment, so he then rented a part of the Rancho del Paso, owned by Samuel Norris, where he first raised vegetables and later grain. In 1857, Hugh planted his first orchard, mostly peaches, and in spite of setbacks caused by the floods of 1861-62 and 1868, he was remarkably successful. He married Miss Elizaberth M. Lizenby in 1858 and eventually had five children with her, including four sons and a daughter. In 1866, Hugh purchased about nine hundred acres of ranch land in Yolo County and to this he added from time to time until it spanned two thousand acres. After the floods of 1868 he sold his interest in the Rancho del Paso and devoted himself to the management of his Yolo property. Hugh made his home in Sacramento so that his children would have the certain advantages that came with life in town, but he spent much of his time on the ranch, raising cattle, horses and crops of all kinds. After several years managing the ranch, he put his son Jacob Eugene LaRue in charge of it while another son, Calhoun Lee LaRue, was put in charge of a 140 acre vineyard in Yountville, which Hugh had purchased in 1885.
Hugh was active in politics and was "staunchly Democratic." He first ran for sheriff of Sacramento County in 1857 and was elected by about eight votes, but the case was contested in the courts and he lost the office. In 1873, however, Hugh was again elected sheriff of Sacramento County by a large majority and he served for the next few years. He was involved in a few notable murder cases and even presided over the hangings of some of the murderers. As representative of the second congressional district, in 1879 he served as a member of the state constitutional convention. During his legislative career he was a supporter of the bill for the erection of the exposition building of the State Agricultural Association; also supported the revision of the general railroad laws, the county government act, the bill reorganizing the senatorial and assembly districts and the laws relating to taxes. In 1888 he was the Democratic candidate for senator and, though not elected, had the satisfaction of running ahead of his ticket. Between 1883 and 1884 he was a member of the lower house of the state legislature and honorably served as speaker during both sessions. Hugh was the director of the State Agricultural Association for twenty years and later served as its president. In 1894, Hugh was elected railroad commissioner from Northern California and served as president of the board for four years. He was also a Royal Arch Mason and had been a member of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers since 1856. He was later put on the board of trustees and served as the president of the organization for a few years in the early 1900s, just before his death in 1906.
Sources:
1) "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California" by J. M. Guinn, pg. 385-387 Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago 1906.
2) "A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern California: Including Biographies of Many of Those who Have Passed Away" Standard Genealogical Publishing Company, California 1901
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