William Pugh

    William Pugh, section 12, Harrison Township, is a native of Harrison County, Ohio, born October 25, 1843, a son of John and Elizabeth (Crabtree) Pugh. In 1849 his parents moved to Indiana and settled on the farm in Blackford County, which is now the home of our subject, where the mother died in 1851, and the father in 1881.

    He was reared a farmer, remaining at home until after the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, when, September 3, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry. He participated in the battles at Champion Hills, Vicksburg, Island No. 10, Iuka, New Madrid, Memphis, Jackson, White River Expedition and Palmetto Rock, serving four years and five months, and being honorably discharged February 3, 1866.

September 3, 1861, he volunteered in the service of his country and was assigned to the Thirty-fourth Indiana Infantry, which was organized at Andersontown, Madison County, and was mustered in on the 21st day of the same month by Major Wood. They were drilled for about six weeks, and were then ordered to Indianapolis, where they remained a few days, when they received marching orders to go to Jeffersonville, and went into camp on the bank of the Ohio River near the falls. There quite a number of the boys had the measles, among them Mr. Pugh. Thence they were ordered south. The 15th of November the regiment was ordered to the front by General Sherman,  d took part in the battle at Greenbrier. From there they went to Island No. 10, thence to New Madrid, Missouri and Riddles Point, where they had quite a severe engagement. They then went to Memphis, Tennessee, and participated in the battle of Fort Pillow, thence to Helena, Arkansas. They were in the battle of Magnolia Church, Champion Hills, Big Black River and Vicksburg, where they were under fire forty-seven days. From there they went to Jackson, Mississippi, thence back to the Mississippi River, and from there to Natchez and New Orleans, where they were on garrison duty a year. They were then sent to Matagorda Peninsula where they veteranized, and went home on furlough. They then went to Galveston, and from there to Brazos Island. They were on the Rio Grade River expedition, and in the last engagement at Palmetto Ranch. Mr. Pugh's company had one man killed. Mr. Pugh is one of the representative men of this county, and we are glad to present to our readers his portrait, which will be found on page 853.

After his return from the war he turned his attention to agriculture, and is now the owner of 158 acres of choice land, 128 acres being cleared and drained. He has always been industrious and enterprising, and is one of Harrison Township's most prosperous citizens.

    He was married March 29, 1866, to Miss Mary Marker, a daughter of Samuel Marker. They have seven children, Samuel Ellis, Otto A., Benjamin F., William C., Mortimer Alonzo, Rosetta May and Bertha Myrtle.

    In politics Mr. Pugh is a Republican. He is a member of James Cartwright Post, G. A. R., and was one of the organizers of the post at Montpelier.

Source: Biographical and Historical Record of Jay and Blackford Counties, Indiana by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1887.