Biography - William J. Pugh
WILLIAM J. PUGH. He of whom we write is the owner of a good farm located
on section 14, of Tower Hill Township, Shelby County. In another part of
this volume will be found a more extended sketch of the history of his
parents, who are proud of the fact that they are the earliest settlers in
this county. Our subject's father is John Pugh. His mother was Elizabeth
(Inman) Pugh. They were the parents of six children of whom our subject was
the youngest member and only son. He is a native of this State and county
being here born near the village of Shelbyville, February 2, 1849.
With the exception of six months spent in Texas, the original of our sketch
has always made his home in this State and county, and has ever been engaged
in agricultural pursuits. As a lad, he was educated in the common schools of
the district in which he lived and there received such practical and common
sense instruction as has fitted him for the cares of the ordinary
businessman. The growth of this State has been so very phenomenal that one
coming from older States or countries would scarcely believe that the
educational advantages offered in the districts, were equal, even at so
early a day, comparatively, as when our subject was a school boy to those in
older communities, but such was the case.
William Pugh's marriage took place in Shelby County, this State December 18,
1873, at which time he was united to Miss Mary F. Smith, a daughter of
Samuel and Margaret (Weakly) Smith. The former was a native of Kentucky, and
the latter of Ohio. They were among the very early settlers in this county.
Immediately after marriage, the young couple set up their household goods in
Tower Hill Township, and there he has ever since resided. His wife's mother
Margaret Smith, died here about 1855. The second wife of Samuel Smith was
Sarah A. McCullough. Mrs. Pugh is one of three children that were the fruit
of the first marriage. She was born in Tower Hill Township, February 9,
1852.
Upon the marriage of our subject he settled in Tower Hill Township, where he
owns two hundred acres, his farm here boasting fine improvements. Our
subject and his wife are the parents of two children, Charles J. and Robert
W. Mr. and Mrs. Pugh are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which
body he of whom we write has been Steward for several years. They are
kindly, warm hearted people, witb broad philanthropic ideas, and acts that
are ever characterized by generosity and purity of purpose. They took a
little girl into their family with the intention of adopting her and rearing
her as one of their own children. She bore the name of Mary Pearl Dove; she
was but three months of age when taken to the hearts and home of her kindly
foster parents, and there she made herself a place in their affections that
was left very desolate when at the age of three years and eight months, she
was taken into the arms of the Good Shepherd and placed in his fold.
Extracted 16 Feb 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 611-612.
