Moses Pugh

MOSES PUGH, who carries on general farming and moderate stock raising on his valuable tract of 74 acres, situated in section I, Cranberry township, Crawford county, O., was born in Lykens township, Crawford county, April 6, 1843, and is one of the justly honored veterans of the great Civil War. His parents were Aaron and Mary (Jackson) Pugh.

Aaron Pugh was born in Virginia, 50 miles from Wheeling, where he grew to manhood and then came to Crawford county, O., and here purchased 40 acres of land in Lykens township, on which he erected a log cabin. When he had provided this home he returned to Virginia and was there married to Mary Jackson, and then returned to Lykens township and in the following year his father-inlaw, William Jackson, came also to this section. That farm continued to be the old homestead until 1863, when Aaron Pugh moved to Cranberry township and bought land in the northeastern part and at one time owned 500 acres here and in Huron county. Later he divided his land among his children and bought property at New Washington, to which he retired and died there when aged ']'j years. Notwithstanding his southern birth and parentage, he was deeply opposed to human slavery and early in the Civil War used his influence to exterminate such traitorous organizations as the Knights of the Golden Circle. He became a man of consequence in Lykens township and served as township trustee and he and wife were active members and liberal supporters of the Baptist church. She died at the age of 68 years. They had eight children, as follows: Elizabeth, who resides at New Washington, Crawford county, who is the widow of Wesley King; William, who died in Huron county, when aged 36 years; Moses; James, who lived but two years; Anlason and Anson, twins, the latter of whom lives in Plymouth, O., and. the former in Putnam county, O.; Alfred B., who lives at Chicago Junction, O.; and John, who lives in Deshler, O.

Moses Puejh attended the district schools near his father's farm in Lykens township and then assisted at home until he was 17 years and six months of age. The Civil War 'as then in progress and although so young he determined to enter the Federal Army and enlisted in Company H, c;c;th O. Vol. Inf., in which he served two years and three months. He then reenlisted and served until the close of the Rebellion and was honorably discharged. Although he was injured at Stephenson, Ala., in the right leg and afterward was twice slightly wounded, he accompanied his company and regiment into every engagement while in the service. The injury to his leg proved a serious matter and continued to trouble him for many years and finally Mr. Pugh had to submit to amputation on Feb. 20, 1893. This was a heavy price to pay for patriotism, but Mr. Pugh complains little of it but has much to say of his long march under Sherman to the sea. The hero element is yet found in the ranks of the veterans of every G. A. R. Post, and Mr. Pugh is a valued member of this organization.

After his discharge from the army, on Aug. 20, 1865, Mr. Pugh returned to Crawford county and on July 26, 1866, was married to Miss Martha Johnston, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Reed) Johnston. The father of Mrs. Pugh was born in Pennsylvania and the mother, a daughter of Daniel and Mary Reed, was born near Canton, O. They married in Crawford county where they lived ever afterward, the mother dying in Cranberry township at the age of 36 years, her burial being in the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. The father of Mrs. Pugh died in Lykens township, when aged 63 years. They were members of the Methodist Protestant church, very active and faithful in church work. All of their five children survive, namely: Martha; Nancy Jane, who is the wife of Samuel Miller, of Shelby, O.; D. D., who also lives at Shelby, O.; J. R., who is a school teacher and a justice of the peace and lives in Whetstone township, Crawford county; and Enoch, who lives at Findlay, O. For many years Mr. Johnston served faithfully in the office of school director and made it his business to visit the schools in pursuance of what he deemed one of his duties. He was a well read, intelligent man and was widely known.

To Mr. and Mrs. Pugh the following children were born: Gertrude, Effie, Mary Jane, Senate A., Harry Logan and William Burdette. Gertrude, who died Aug. 22, 1905 at that time was the widow of Hale Carpenter, who died Oct. 2, 1904. Their burial was in the Swamp burying ground at Mt. Pisgah church. They left three children: Elwood, Helen and Russell, who live with their maternal grandparents. Effie, the second daughter.

lives at home. Mary Jane married V. B. Alspach, of Cranberry township and they have two children: Martha Evelyn and Marjorie Ruth. Senate A. is a prominent citizen of Crawford county and is postmaster at New Washington. Harry Logan, who was graduated first from the New Washington High School, later completed a business course at Oberlin College. He married Dora Miller and they reside three miles from New Washington. William Burdette, the youngest son, lives at home. Mrs. Pugh was carefully educated and taught school in Cranberry township until the death of her mother and was married in the following year. She was born June 10, 1843 and is a woman of such amiable character that she is universally beloved.

Since marriage Mr. Pugh has resided in the northeastern part of Cranberry township, locating first on 80 acres which he improved and then sold to advantage, afterward buying a second tract of eighty acres and at present lives on his farm of 74 acres situated in section I, in the same township. This land is finely cultivated and well improved, and its management is largely carried on by his youngest son. Mr. Pugh has always given his political support to the Republican party and frequently, as one of the township's substantial and representative men, has been called upon to serve in public office and has been very useful as township supervisor and also as school director. He and family are members of the Baptist church, although Mrs. Pugh united with the Methodist Protestant church when she was 17 years old but at the time of marriage, in 1866, joined the Baptist church with her husband. She has always been very active in church work, belongs to the Ladies' Aid Society and for 38 years has been a member of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. She belongs also to the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and additionally to the Woman's Relief Corps, in all these organizations showing womanly sympathy and tenderness coupled with the good judgment and practical views that have assisted her in rearing her family to respected and useful man and womanhood. In every relation of life she is an estimable woman.

As printed in History of Crawford County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.