Bio of David James Pugh 1881 - 1962

David James Pugh was born at Tynddol, Llanbadarnfynydd, Radnorshire on 30 December 1881, the first son of Pryce and Mary Ann Pugh, and the only child to reach adulthood.  At age 9, the 1891 census shows DJ living with his father at his grandfather’s farm Tyllwyd in Llanbadarnfynydd (adjoining his uncle’s farm Tynddol). His mother was not there.  By 1901 DJ was living and working at Pantydwr Shop in St Harmon.  The shop was run by Ann Jones, a distant relation, and DJ is listed as a grocer’s assistant.

On 3 Nov 1909 DJ married Delilah Jane Hughes, also of St Harmon, at Maes Chapel in Rhayader.  He was still working at Pantydwr Shop when he married, but shortly afterwards set up a grocery business at Central Stores in Rhayader. It's likely that this was funded, at least in part, by Delilah's parents.  The business was later extended to include a drapers.  Early in World War One, the shop's name was changed to Trade Hall – Britain was at war with the Central Powers and Central Stores was therefore not an acceptable name.  The couple had three children in Rhayader – Mary Myfanwy Gwenllian, Trevor James, and Phyllis Afonwy.

In 1920 the family moved to Hay-on-Wye.  DJ initially set up a grocer/draper business at Scotland House on High Town, but later dropped the grocery and added a gents outfitters.  A fourth child – David Colvin – was born in Hay.

After Delilah’s death DJ married Martha Jane Rickett (nee Jones) and returned to Rhayader, where he died in 1962.  Martha had been a neighbour of DJ's at Pantydwr, growing up on a farm there.  She left Pantydwr in 1907 to go to America, where she lived in Racine, Wisconsin, eventually marrying Thomas Rickett, a fellow Welshman.  Following Thomas's death in the 1930s, she stayed in Racine, until her return to Britain in 1951 when she married DJ.