I do have this information from -
http://archive.org/stream/historyoffresnoc01vand/historyoffr... - but I am looking for greater detail about the ranch. Thanks.
JOHN M. PUGH. — Among the prominent and worthy pioneers of Cali-
fornia who are sure to be lastingly remembered as among the broad-minded,
far-seeing builders of Fresno County, and one equally certain long to be
honored by those who knew him personally as the high-principled founder and
thrifty head of a famih^ now well-established here, was John M. Pugh, born on
May 9, 1839 in Carroll County, Ohio. He removed to Missouri where, at
a very early age, he worked hard at farming. When a young man of about
eighteen, in 1856, he crossed the plains with ox teams and came to IMarysville,
near which place he drifted into the stock business. In the spring of 1867 he
returned to Missouri and was there married to Miss Ruth Sallee, a native
daughter of that state: and a year later, after their first' child was born, they
came out to California.
At first Mr. Pugh located on a farm at North Butte, Sutter County, near
Pennington, and there engaged in grain and stock raising; but in 1874, having
sold his ranch at North Butte, he removed to Stonvford, Colusa County and
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY 631
settled on a claim of 160 acres, where he continued farming and stockraising.
His efforts having proved successful, he in time bought out the land of other
settlers, and became owner of 4,500 acres on Stony Creek, which he im-
proved with a good residence and buildings, and brought to a high state of
cultivation. He was the first man on Stony Creek to sow alfalfa ; and as the
experiment proved that the soil and climate was adapted to its culture, it
was taken up by other settlers and alfalfa growing has become popular in
that section, the land being irrigated from the waters of Stony Creek.
In June, 1888. Mr. Pugh sold his ranch and removed with his family to
Fresno County where he bought 160 acres of land in the Central Colony, on
East and North Avenues, and engaged in viticulture, farming and stock-
raising. Later he sold this property and moved to a ranch near Fowler. His
wife died in 1904, and in 1905 he removed to Kutner Colony and bought 140
acres of the old Limbo ranch. Forty acres of this was already in vine-
yard : and with the aid of his sons he set out the rest of the ranch in the
same manner; and there he resided until in 1913, when he died widely mourned
by those who had come to know him and to appreciate his exceptional per-
sonality. In Masonic circles the demise of Mr. Pugh was deeply regretted ;
he was made a Mason in Marysville and was one of the founders of Snow
Mountain Lodge, F. & A. M., at Stonyford, in which he was also Master.
The seven children thus honored by this good man's name are : Hannah
Pugh. who became Mrs. J. A. Baile3% and now resides in Willows, where
her husband is Sheriff of Glenn County: Edward M. Pugh, of Pugh Bros.:
James V., who is associated with Edward in the same firm : John S. Pugh, in
the Granville district: A. U. Pugh, of Fresno: Perley Pugh, of Sanger: and
Ina, now Mrs. James Rose, who lives in the Granville district. All were
born in Stonyford except the three oldest: Hannah was born in Missouri;
E. M. and John S. were born in Sutter County.