Hugh Caperton (April 17, 1781 – February 9, 1847) was an American politician and planter from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
. He was the father of
Allen Taylor Caperton
Allen Taylor Caperton (November 21, 1810 – July 26, 1876) was an American politician who was a United States senator from the State of West Virginia in 1875–1876. He was a member of the Democratic Party. He had been in the Virginia House ...
whom he had with his wife Jane Erskine Caperton.
Biography
Born in
Greenbrier County, Virginia (now
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...
), Caperton was a planter and engaged in
mercantile pursuits as a young man. He moved to
Monroe County, Virginia
Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,376. Its county seat is Union.
Monroe County was the home of Andrew Summers Rowan of Spanish–American War fame, who is immortalized i ...
which he became
sheriff of in 1805 and became a member of the
Virginia House of Delegates
The Virginia House of Delegates is one of the two parts of the Virginia General Assembly, the other being the Senate of Virginia. It has 100 members elected for terms of two years; unlike most states, these elections take place during odd-number ...
in 1810, serving until 1813. He was elected a
Federalist to the
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...
in 1812, serving from 1813 to 1815 and later returned to the House of Delegates from 1826 to 1830. Caperton resumed engaging in
agricultural and
mercantile pursuits until his death at his estate called "
Elmwood" near
Union, Virginia (now
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the B ...
) on February 9, 1847. He was interred at Green Hill Cemetery in Union.
"Elmwood" was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1976.
1813 election
Caperton was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives with 100% of the vote, defeating Republican Ballard Smith.
References
External links
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1781 births
1847 deaths
Members of the Virginia House of Delegates
Farmers from Virginia
Virginia sheriffs
People from Monroe County, West Virginia
American planters
People from Greenbrier County, West Virginia
Federalist Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia
Caperton family of Virginia and West Virginia
Businesspeople from Virginia
19th-century American politicians
Members of the United States House of Representatives who owned slaves
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