Hugh Wilson, superintendent of Mine No. I, Staunton, Macoupin county,
was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 26th of January, 1859, being a
son of James and Margaret (Reid) Wilson. The parents were natives of the
same portion of Scotland and there they spent their entire lives. They
were residents of the village of Dreyhorn, where for forty-five years
the father worked in the mines. He was a capable and trustworthy man and
his abilities being recognized he was advanced until he became
superintendent. To Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson were born ten children, in
order of birth they are as follows: John, who is deceased; Hugh, our
subject; James, who is also deceased; William, superintendent of the
Streator Coal Company of Peoria, Illinois; David, who is a resident of
Roanoke, Minnesota; and Thomas and Elizabeth, both of whom are deceased;
Agnes, the wife of James MacDonald, of Scotland; Janet, the wife of
James Henderson of Scotland, and Margaret, who is deceased.
Being one of the elder members of a family of ten, Hugh Wilson was not
given the advantage of acquiring a very good education. In common with
the majority of the lads in the mining districts of his native country
he became a wage earner at eleven years of age. When he was seventeen
years old he became a miner with a younger brother working under him as
an apprentice. He continued in this vocation until he reached the age of
nineteen when he went to Bradford, England, where for four years he
worked in a woolen factory. Always having been most desirous of becoming
a citizen of the United States, he determined to realize his ambition
and with this purpose in view carefully saved a portion of his meager
earnings each month, until he had acquired the necessary passage money.
Upon his arrival in this country he made his way westward to Illinois,
following various occupations at different points. He subsequently
worked in New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri, then went back to Scotland on
a visit. Upon his return to this country he settled in Kinmundy,
Illinois, where he worked for eleven years. At the expiration of that
period he came to Staunton to take a position in the mines and,
possessing more than average ability besides being steady and reliable,
he was advanced to mine examiner and eventually made superintendent of
Mine No. I, in which capacity he continues to serve. He has the
supervision of three hundred and fifty workmen and has an output from
his mine of seventeen hundred tons of coal per day. Thrifty and
persevering Mr. Wilson has acquired a very comfortable residence and
some other real estate in Staunton.
Mr. Wilson has been twice
married, his first union being in 1886 with Miss Mary. Hamilton, who
passed away in 1901. Unto them were born three children, two of whom are
deceased: James, the first born; and Hugh, the youngest member of the
family. Robert, the second son, is living and continues to make his home
with his father. In 1905 Mr. Wilson married Miss Mary Anne Boyle, and
they have become the parents of three children: Anna. David and Hugh,
Jr.
In religious faith the family are Presbyterians, Mr. Wilson
being a trustee of the church. He is affiliated with several fraternal
orders, being a member of both the Knights of Pythias and Masonic orders
of Staunton, and the Knights of Honor of Kinmundy, while both he and his
wife hold membership in the Order of the Eastern Star. Ever since
granted the right of suffrage by naturalization, he has cast his ballot
for the republican party, and he is now a member of the town council.
Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 558-559.
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