My Genealogy Hound

William T. La Rue, farmer and stock raiser, was born in 1839, the son of Jacob H. and Elizabeth (Thurman) La Rue, the former of French origin, and the latter born in Lincoln County, Ky., in 1801. Three brothers left France in the sixteenth century among the Huguenots, and came to Maryland. One brother came to Virginia, and then to Kentucky, and founded our subject’s family. The father was born in La Rue County, Ky., in 1799, the county being named in honor of the family. Jacob went to Hardin County when a young man, and worked at his trade of blacksmithing in Elizabethtown. In 1838 he came to this county, and bought 300 acres now owned by his heirs. He died in 1884. Our subject, the eldest of three children, was educated in his native county, and in 1861 joined the Confederate State Guards, and fought at Lexington, Pea Ridge, Perry Grove and Helena, where he was captured and taken to Alton, Ill. In 1864 he was taken to Fort Delaware, and a year later to Richmond, where he was exchanged, and rejoined his army. In 1865 he taught school in Dallas County, Tex., but returned in September. November 1, 1866, he married Margaret C., a daughter of Charles H. and Lucinda (Williams) Stevens, and born December 19, 1842. Their children are Gustavus L., Jacob H., Charles S., Margret E. and Thomas L. After marriage he located on the home place, and in 1879 bought 160 acres of his present home, now increased to 200 acres. He is a public-spirited man, and is secretary of the Grange Store, and a stockholder in the Lewiston Creamery Association. He is a Democrat, but was formerly a Whig. Since 1882 he has been a justice. He is Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, and he and his wife are members of the United Missionary Baptist Church, of which he has been a member twenty-eight years, a deacon three years, and moderator one year.