Charles Pugh
Charles Pugh, manager of the Pugh Stone Company, conducting of Lima, was born in Oneida County one of the most important industries New York, November 23, 1858, and is a son of the late William Pugh, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page. Our subject's father located in Allen County, Ohio, in the early '60's and was among the first to engage in the construction of pike roads here. The headquarters of the company have been located in Lima for almost 30 years.
William Pugh, born in Wales, November 26, 1832, was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that calling for a few years at Gomer, in this county, after which he engaged in a special line of contracting. He furnished crushed stone for road-ways, and built pike roads for a great many years, later furnishing stone for concrete and cement work. For about 15 years he was also engaged in the ice business. All in all, William Pugh was an influential citizen of the county. He served as a member of the Lima Water Works Board and was holding that position at the time of his death, February 28, 1900.
William Pugh was married about 1852 to Mary Evans, a native of Wales, and they had nine children, as follows: William, deceased; Annie, who married Joseph Jones, of Lima, and has two children Mary M. and Richard W.; William C., deceased; Charles; Mary; Lisabeth, deceased, and Elizabeth. William Pugh and wife came to America from Wales, in 1857, after their two oldest children were born. Their third child was born en route to this country. The parents landed in New York City and went directly to Waterville, New York, where they resided about eight years before coming to Allen County, Ohio. Mrs. William Pugh died March 4, 1896, aged 65 years.
Charles Pugh was reared and educated at Gomer, and, upon leaving school, was put to work in his father's stone quarry. He soon became the latter's able assistant, and in 1877 located at Lima, where he has since resided and superintended the interests of the company. Since the death of his father, Mr. Pugh has had the sole management of the business. During recent years the company has done a large amount of cement construction, being especially busy in getting out crushed stone for cement and concrete work and for repairing pike roads. The quarries and crusher of the Pugh Stone Company are located on East North street, within nine blocks of the heart of the city.
In 1890, Charles Pugh was married to Clara Miller, who is a daughter of one of Allen County's oldest and most esteemed citizens Uriah Miller, of Elida. This union has resulted in the birth of four children, namely: Beulah June and Charles Victor, both deceased; Virgil N. and Gladys E. Mr. Pugh is one of the substantial, reputable business men of Lima, and has a pleasant home at No. 925 East High street. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Man and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.