Standard History of Adams and Wells Counties, 1918
John W. Tyndall

Ezra Bugh

While all his life and experiences have been in Indiana, Mr. Ezra Bugh has been identified with the agricultural section of Adams County for only fourteen or fifteen years. He has one of the excellent farm homes of Hartford Township.

Mr. Bugh was born in Blackford County, Indiana, December 8, 1849, a son of Barnhart W. and Hannah (Coddington) Bugh. His father was of old Pennsylvania stock, born in that state June 13, 1805. The mother was born in Maryland June 14, 1807. They accompanied their respective families to Perry County, Ohio, where they grew up and married and in 1848 they settled in Indiana in Washington Township of Blackford County, where they spent many years among the highly respected members of the farming community. In January, 1870, they retired from their farm to Hartford City, where the father died March 29, 1877, and the mother on January 27, 1880. Barnhart Bugh began voting as a whig, took up the republican cause at the formation of that party, and for one term was a county commissioner of Blackford County. His religion was that of the Methodist Church, while his wife was a Baptist in faith. They had five sons and five daughters: William, deceased; Jacob, deceased, who served as a soldier in the Civil war; Jesse, a Union veteran who is still living at Hartford City; Ezra, who though very young at the time, was a member of the Home Guard during the war; Perry of Hartford City; Elizabeth; Lydia, wife of George Frash; Catherine, wife of Levi Bowman; Mary, wife of Andrew Williams; and Jane, wife of John J. Woods, former county treasurer of Blackford County, the last named being the only one of the daughters now living.

Ezra Bugh's earliest recollections are of Blackford County during the '50s and during the Civil war period. His environment was a farm and his education was obtained in the district schools. He found occupation for his time and efforts on the home place until he was twenty-five, and on June 6, 1875, married Elizabeth Dildine. She was born in Blackford County September 27, 1853, daughter of Jesse Dildine. She grew up at Hartford City and acquired her education in the public schools there.

Mr. and Mrs. Bugh after their marriage lived in Hartford City for three years and they then went back to the old Bugh farm in the county and conducted it as renters for three years. Mr. Bugh then acquired a tract of woodland, eighty acres, and spent several years clearing and ditching it and putting it into shape for farming. He sold his Blackford County interests and on March 13, 1903, settled in Hartford Township of Adams County, where he bought the eighty acres comprising the north half of the northwest quarter of section 22. This is a farm well fitted for his needs, and furnishes hi a comfortable living and a good home for his declining years.

Mr. and Mrs. Bugh have seven children, all living: Clara, wife of John Recob; Eva, wife of Charles Robinson; Edith, wife of Otta Sales; Lottie, who married Lee Melick; Mable, unmarried; Mary, wife of Lorenzo Jacobs; Walter, who lived in Kansas and married Alda Eckroat. Mr. Bugh in matters of politics supports the republican party.
Typed by Dawn Montgomery


Hartford City News, Wednesday, March 2, 1927
Ezra Bugh is beckoned by death today
Two years' illness causes death of well known man here
Funeral on Saturday
Deceased was born in this county - Rev M.F. Dawson in charge of rites.

Ezra A. Bugh, 77, brother of the late Perry and Jesse Bugh, a native of Blackford county and for the past seven years a prominent resident of south Spring street, died at the family home here Wednesday morning at 9:45 o'clock following a two-years illness with hardening of the arteries and complications. Mr. Bugh had been in a critical condition for the past two weeks and members of his family were called to his bedside, Tuesday evening when his condition became grave and little hopes were entertained for his recovery. Ezra Allen Bugh was born in Blackford county, the son of Barney and Hannah Bugh, December 8, 1849. He grew to young manhood in the vicinity of his birth and on June 6, 1875, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Dildine, also a prominent resident of the county. Following their marriage Mr. Bugh continued in farming and in 1900 he moved to Adams county where he resided until seven years ago at which time he retired and moved to this city. Since that time he had resided at 407 south Spring street. Mr. Bugh was a member of the Methodist church here. He was a highly respected citizen possessed of a host of friends. He was one of a family of twelve children, one of whom survives, Mrs. Jane Wood, of Montpelier, widow of the late John Wood, formerly of this city. Besides the sister and the widow, Mr. Bugh is survived by the following children: Mrs. John Recob and Mrs. Charles Robinson of this city; Walter Bugh, of Kansas City, Kan.; Mrs. Otto Sales and Mrs. Grover Shanks, of Geneva; Mrs. Lee Melick of Pennville, and Mrs. Lorenzo Jacobs, of Bluffton. Sixteen grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren also survive. Mrs. John L. McGeath and Mrs. Ned Huff, of this city are nieces. James, Charles, and Riley Bugh, residing northeast of this city, are nephews. Funeral services will be conducted from the late home Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, in charge of Rev. M.F. Dawson of Marion, former pastor of the local United Brethren church. Burial will be made in the IOOF cemetery here.

1880 Census
Ezsa BUGH   M   Male  30  IN  Farmer 
Sarah E. BUGH  M   Female  26  IN  Keeping House 
Clara BUGH   S  Female  6  IN 
Eva BUGH  S  Female  4  IN 
Walter BUGH  S  Male  2   IN 
Edith BUGH  S   Female  5M  IN 
Source Information: Census Place Washington, Blackford, Indiana
Family History Library Film 1254266 Page Number 380A

Hartford City newspaper
Death date: April 22, 1936

Long Illness Ends Fatally Aged Resident
Mrs. Ezra Bugh, 82, succumbs at home of daughter near Geneva
Make Burial Here Body will be returned here for Funeral Services and Burial

Friends here were grieved Thursday, to learn of the death of Mrs. Elizabeth Bugh, 82, widow of the late Ezra Bugh, which occurred Wednesday evening at 10 o'clock at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Grover Shanks, northwest of Geneva. Death was due to complications incident to her advanced age. She had been in failing health for the past two years, and her condition had been critical for the past four weeks. Mrs. Bugh's condition became extremely grave last Sunday. The body will be returned to this city for funeral services and burial. Mrs. Bugh was a native of Hartford City, being born here on September 27, 1853, the daughter of Jesse and Amie Dildine. She had spent the greater part of her lifetime in this community. Mrs. Bugh became the wife of Ezra Bugh on June 5, 1874. From 1903 to 1920, they resided in Adams county, then returning to Hartford City. Mr. Bugh died nine years ago last March. Surviving Mrs. Bugh are the following children: Mrs. Eva Robinson, 1101 north Mulberry street; Mrs. Clara Recob, residing at the corner of Mill and Elm streets; Mrs. Mary Jacobs, of Bluffton; Mrs. Otto Sales, of near Keystone, and Mrs. Grover Shanks, residing five and a half miles northwest of Geneva, and the following sisters and a brother: William Dildine, of Gaston, Mrs. Nora Carrol, of Alexandria, and Mrs. Amanda Ketchum, of west Commercial street, city.

One daughter, Mrs. Lottie Melick and one son, Walter Bugh, are deceased. Seventeen grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren also survive. Mr. and Mrs. Bugh formerly resided at 403 south Spring street, this city. Mrs. Bugh had resided with her daughter, Mrs. Shanks, near Geneva, for the past three years. Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Melick and family and Mrs. Eva Robinson visited at the bedside of Mrs. Bugh Wednesday evening, leaving the Shanks home only about an hour before her demise. Short funeral services will be conducted from the Shanks home at Geneva, Saturday morning at 10 o'clock and the body brought here to the Robinson home. Funeral services will then be conducted from the Robinson home here Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in charge of Rev. Homer Studebaker of Geneva, with burial following in the IOOF cemetery.

Blackford County, Indiana Marriage Records Book A 1839 - 1857
Name: Ezra Bugh
Spouse: Sarah E. Dildine
Marriage Date: 06 Jun 1875
OSPage: 542
County: Blackford
Name: B. G. Shinn
Bytitle: Local Pr.