Pugh, Robert Wood
PUGH, BAKER, LONG
Posted By: Don Wherry (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 18:21:19
Pugh, Robert Wood, born August 29, 1858, near Muscatine, Iowa. His father, Jonathan G. Pugh, was born at Mansfield, Ohio, January 12, 1825, and served as a soldier in the war with Mexico, and in 1849, with his brother, Dr. J. W. Pugh, went to California, where they were quite successful and after a few months returned with a good supply of gold dust. The next season the two returned by team on the overland route to California. J. W. settled there and became a prominent and influential man in the community. He was elected to the legislature of that state and chosen speaker of the house. Jonathan G. returned to Ohio and in 1854 he made a trip to Iowa and entered a large tract of government land in Poweshiek and Mahaska counties and later removed to Iowa. November 25, 1857, he was married at Muscatine, Iowa, to Miss Harriet V. Baker, who was a school teacher, and the daughter of Isaac and Clarinda Baker, of Bainbridge, Ohio. They settled on a farm near Muscatine, Iowa, and Mr. Pugh became largely engaged in the stock business.
Robert Wood is their oldest son. His education began at home under his mother's instruction and was later continued in the country schools. His success in life has been largely due to the excellent instruction, advice, and care she bestowed upon him in boyhood. In 1876 the family removed to their farm near Deep River, in Poweshiek county. R. W. soon afterward attended a normal institute and secured a certificate to teach. After teaching a few terms he took a course of instruction at the Southern Iowa normal, at Bloomfield. For several years he worked on the farm in summer and taught school in the winter. In the years 1880 and 1881 he taught school in Kansas. Returning to Iowa, he continued teaching. In 1882 he went to school at the Iowa City academy and afterwards returned to teaching. He was a close student and an excellent teacher. In 1885 he was professor of penmanship and bookkeeping in the Iowa City academy for two terms. In 1884 he decided to study law, and, procuring some books, gave his leisure hours to reading law. In September, 1885, he entered the law department of the State university and graduated in June, 1886, with the degree of LL. B. In 1886 he entered upon the practice of his profession at Williamsburg, Iowa, where he has remained to the present time.
He has served as mayor of the town, secretary of the school board, and trustee of the First Presbyterian church.
In 1896 he served as one of the committee appointed by the supreme court to examine the students of the class of 1896 at the State University of Iowa for admission to the bar.
He was married at Williamsburg, Iowa, December 24, 1888, to Miss Mary H. Long, a school teacher, and a daughter of James and Catharine T. Long. They have four children, Helen, Robert E., John and Mary L. The Longs were early settlers of Iowa county, and came from Columbus, Ohio.
Mr. Pugh is an able lawyer, has a large practice, and a wide reputation as a commercial lawyer. He is a member of the Iowa State Bar association, which he helped to organize. He is also a member of the Commercial Law League of America. He is an active republican and a good campaign speaker. In the campaign of 1896 he was a member of the county central committee and in the fall of 1898 was elected county attorney of Iowa county. Mr. Pugh is a genial man, always ready to accommodate a friend, and modest and unassuming in his manners.
- p. 240-241,
Biographies and Portraits of the Progressive Men of Iowa:
Leaders In Business, Politics, And The Professions, 2 vol.; 1210 pps.
Gue, Benjamin F.; Shambaugh, Benjamin Franklin
Conaway & Shaw; Des Moines, IA; 1899
Photo: Robert Wood Pugh
Poweshiek Biographies maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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