FRANKLIN COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: PUGH, Hon. John M. (published 1880)
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History of Franklin and Pickaway Counties,  Ohio
Pub by Williams Bros.,  1880

HON. JOHN M. PUGH,

ex-probate judge of Franklin County,  and otherwise long a prominent
citizen of Columbus,  was born in Truro Township,  in that county, 
November 7,  1823,  son of David and Jane (nee Murphy) Pugh,  the former
of whom is the subject of another notice in this history.  He was
educated,  in the style prevalent at that early day,  in the old log
school houses,  to which,  in his case,  a substantial addition was made
at the Reynoldsburg High School,  and subsequently at Central college. 
He supported himself at these schools in the summer by teaching school
during the winter.  His last school was taught in the summer of 1848, 
at Kirkersville,  Licking County.  September fourth,  of that year,  he
began reading law with Major Samuel Brush,  of Columbus,  remaining with
him until 1851,  when he was admitted to practice at the November term
of the supreme court,  and sworn in by Hon. Peter Hitchcock,  presiding
judge of that court.  In the spring of that year he had been elected to
his first office,  clerk of what was then Montgomery Township,  and
included the city of Columbus.  He was nominated on the Democratic
ticket,  and although the city was then whig by nearly six hundred
majority,  he was elected by a majority of one hundred and fifty-nine. 
In 1853,  when the contest in Franklin County between the two parties
was very close,  he was elected auditor of the county,  by the then
unprecedented majority of one thousand four hundred and fifty-six.  He
was re-elected in 1855,  and at the close of his second term retired to
form a partnership in law practice with his old preceptor,  Major Bush.
(transcribers note..The Majors surname is spelled both as Bush and Brush
in this article)  Upon the retirement of the latter from practice,  Mr.
Pugh formed a partnership with the Hon. L.L. Critchfield.  In 1863 he
was nominated by the Democrats for probate judge,  and was triumphantly
elected,  receiving subsequently the honor of four successive
re-elections,  retiring at last in February,  1879,  after fifteen years
consecutive service,  being in all probability the longest term in that
office to be recorded for one man in Franklin County.  He also served
six years upon the State board of agriculture,  two years as treasurer, 
and one year as president.  For nearly six years he has been one of the
commissioners of the State Reform School for Boys,  near Lancaster, 
having been successfully appointed to that post by Governors Allen, 
Hayes and Bishop,  and being two years president of the board.  For
eleven years he was treasurer of the Franklin County Agricultural
Society,  and three years its president.  It does not often occur that a
lawyer in full practice,  as Judge Pugh now is,  in association with his
son,  John C.L. Pugh, esq.,  manifests so hearty an interest in
agricultural affairs,  and is honored with so many offices of trust in
connection with them.  He is emphatically a Franklin County man,  and
also stands stoutly by the interests of Columbus.  No enterprise has
ever been projected for its true interest,  that has not found in him a
hearty supporter.

Judge Pugh was married on Christmas day,  1851,  to Miss Martha F.
Cook,  by whom he has seven children living,  four boys and three
girls,  one daughter having gone before.
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