William P. LaRUE a representative citizen of Montgomery township [Marion County, Ohio], and one of its leading agriculturists, resides on his well-improved farm of 190 acres, which is situated two and a half miles northeast of LaRue. He was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, May 10, 1856, and is a son of Luther R. and Ann (KEECH) LaRUE.

The LaRUE family is of French extraction and the name has been one of prominence in this part of Ohio for many years. The memory of one of its early settlers, Maj. William LaRUE, is perpetuated in the prosperous village of LaRue, of which he was the founder.

Luther R. LaRue, the father of our subject, was born in Athens County, Ohio and was reared by his uncle, Maj. William LaRUE. He died in 1896, at the age of 68 years, on his farm south of Agosta, which he had purchased in 1868, upon his returning from Iowa, to which State he had gone in 1854. In Marion County he married Ann KEECH, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in Marion County in 1884, aged 56 years. They had seven children, as follows: David H., who died near Green Camp, in May, 1905, leaving two daughters and three sons; Albert N., a dealer in musical instruments at Richwood, Union County, who has one daughter; William P.; Oliver Perry, born in Iowa, who died in Marion County, Ohio, aged about five years; Mary C., who married Croft BAUER, a farmer and has one son, and two that died in infancy. During the Civil War, the father of this family served for a time in the Home Guards of Iowa.

William P. LaRUE attended the district schools in his native locality until the family came to Marion County, after which he spent two years as a student in the LaRue High School and three terms at the Ohio Normal University, at Ada. For some 20 years afterward, Mr. LaRUE alternated between teaching through the winter seasons and farming through the summer. In 1881 he purchased 100 acres of land in Bowling Green township, which he subsequently sold. In 1901 he bought his present valuable farm of 190 acres. He now has the greater part of this property well improved, through industry and good management having developed its resources and added to its productiveness until he now owns one of the best farms in Montgomery township.

On March 23, 1882, Mr. LaRUE was united in marriage with Maggie BAIN, a daughter of Hon. John and Eliza (SCRIBNER) BAIN, the former of whom was born in Scotland. He served in the Ohio State Senate. His death occurred in 1897, at the age of 68 years. The mother of Mrs. LaRUE died in the fall of 1881, aged 47 years. Mrs. LaRUE is a granddaughter of Samuel SCRIBNER, who was a prominent citizen of Morrow County.

Mr. and Mrs. LaRUE have had five children, as follows: Harley G., who is in the bee business at Medina; Clarence H., who is attending the Ohio Northern University at Ada; Alvin B.; Mabel, deceased; and Flora Jeanette. The eldest son took a business course at Ada and both he and Clarence are graduates of the LaRue High School. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mr. LaRUE is an ordained local preacher. Politically he is a Republican, but takes little part in politics aside from performing the duties of a good citizen.

NOTE: LaRue, Ohio, was named after Major William LaRUE. In the 1840's, The Major and his wife Cynthia (BRINE) LaRUE purchased a plot of land, approximately 350 acres, on the east bank of the Scioto River. The town LaRue was incorporated as a village in 1851. It has the distinction of being the smallest town in the United States to have ever owned a National Football League (NFL) franchase - the Oorang Indians - of which hometown son Jim THORPE played and coached the team.
Major William LaRUE's father was Jacob LaRUE, one of the earliest pioneers of Ohio, migrating from Virginia. Jacob was later killed by Indians.
Cynthia (BRINE) LaRUE died in November of 1857; Major William LaRUE died August 18, 1880.

SOURCES: Representative Citizens of Marion County, Ohio 1907.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaRue,_Ohio
LaRue Centennial: 1851-1951

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009