William B. LaRue, hotel-keeper and the first blacksmith in Keithsburg, Mercer county, Illinois, was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, August 13, 1824. His father, who was of French birth, came to America in his early youth and died in Kentucky August 27, 1824.
William, with his mother, step-father and brothers, emigrated to Illinois in 1832, landing at Oquawka April 15 and at Monmouth April 24 of the same year. On September 4, 1851, he was married to Miss Catharine M. Roberts. She was born February 21, 1835, and died April 14, 1882. William and Catharine LaRue had no children of their own, but had creditably raised seven orphans.1
In the 1860 census2 in Henderson, we find William and Catharine:
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William Larue, age 35, Farmer, born in Kentucky Catharine Larue, age 24, born in Indiana George Delavan, age 18, born in Michigan Allen Wade, age 18, born in Indiana Leona Sterling, age 4, born in Illinois |
The last child may have been called Adalaide La Rue in the 1870 census.
In the 1870 census3 in Keithsburg we find William and Catharine:
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William Larew, age 46, liveryman, born in Kentucky Catharine, age 34, born in Indiana Adelaide S. LaRue, age 14, born in Illinois Hiram Allen, age 7, born in Tennessee |
In the 1880 census4 in Keithsburg we find William and Catharine:
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William La Rue age 56, Hotel Keeper, born in Kentucky Catherine La Rue, age 45, wife, born in Indiana, father born in Maryland, mother born in Indiana Hiram La Rue, age 17, son, born in Tennessee, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Indiana Addie Jackson, age 23, daughter, born in Illinois, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Indiana Mary Jackson, age 3, granddaughter, born in Illinois, father born in Indiana, mother born in Illinois Mary Lewis, age 21, boarder Christopher Parker, age 39, boarder |
Sources:
- History of Mercer County, 1882, Keithsburg Township history (page 137)
From the La Rue families in Mercer county. - 1860 US census of Township 10 N Range 4 W, Henderson county, Illinois
- 1870 US Census of Keithsburg, Mercer county, Illinois
- 1880 US Census of Keithsburg, Mercer county, Illinois