Alexander Craig
McMiken Wilson
aka: Alex Wilson, Alec Wilson, Happy Wilson,
A. C. Wilson, Alex C. Wilson
Tracing
Alex like the other owners and managers of mines
in SE. Saskatchewan, is
no easy task.
They are noted in the history books, Alex, more than
most,
but still only brief info. on their past. Their family etc.
With a little internet searching I have compiled the following
information.
Note, I am an Amateur Genealogist, and as such,
do not
proclaim this info below to be 100% accurate.
It is as best as I
can get, without spending money
on ordering certificates of birth and
marriage in England.
Spent a few hours looking at microfilm in the Estevan Library,
but couldn't find his obituary, which I find strange,
since him and his wife are buried there.
b- Dec 1, 1878, In the Village of Bold,
in Prescott Parish, Lancashire, England
Christened in 1879 in Burton-Wood, Lancashire.
d- June 25, 1971, probably in Winnipeg MB.
His wife Jane Ellen Wilson, nee (Kenyon or Woods?)
b- Feb 1879 in England
d- Nov 2, 1957
Both buried in Estevan City Cemetery
He was married between Oct-Dec 1901
in Prescott Registration district, Lancashire, England.
They had 2 daughters I know of.
1. Mildred- b- Jan 1903 in England.
Unknown if she was married, or when she died.
2. Ida- b- July 1909 in Saskatchewan.
She married a Mr. Lewis, and lived in Winnipeg MB.
Unknown if she is alive or not.
Alex came to Canada in 1904,
then Ellen and Mildred came in 1906.
In 1906 they were boarding with
James and Elizabeth Molyneux at Coalfields.
(see manifest pics below)
They appear in the 1906 census, on page 14,
Assiniboia East, sub dist #7,
location of Coalfields, Sec 3, Tsp 2, Rge 6, W2.
Census was taken July 18, 1906,
so we know Ellen and Mildred,
arrived between Jan and July 18, 1906.
Alex is shown as arriving in 1906 in 1911 census.
I would bet he returned to England,
to get his wife and daughter,
and came with them in 1906. thus the 2 dates.
In 1911 census Alex is shown as Anglican
Religion,
and as a Coal Miner for his occupation.
English nationality.
They are living in Roche Percee, Block 2, Lot
10 & 11,
shown on Page 5, Line 29, family #38.
Township 1, Assiniboia, Dist 207, Sub dist 6.
I traced his father to be William Wilson (Sr.),
b- ca 1825 in Scotland.
(56 in 1881 census)
d- after 1881, ?
Shown as a farm labourer in 1881 census.
His mother was Anne (nee ?)
b- ca 1851 Warrington, Lancashire, England.
(age 30 in 1881 census)
d- After 1881, ?
They had 6 children I know of.
His siblings:
1. William Wilson (Jr.) b- ca 1871, in Bold, Lancashire, England
3 Williams registered, unknown which is correct one.
2. Sarah Wilson- b- bet. Jan-Mar, 1873, in Bold,
Lancashire, England
Her birth registered in Prescott Registration District
3. Jessie Wilson- b- bet. Apr-June, 1874, in
Bold, Lancashire, England
Her birth registered in Prescott Registration District
4. James Wilson- b- ca1876, in Bold, Lancashire,
England
3 James registered, unknown which is correct one.
5. Frances Wilson - b- bet. Jan-Mar, 1877, in
Bold, Lancashire, England
Her birth registered in Prescott Registration District
Last born that I know of,
6. Alexander C. M. Wilson
In 1881 the family was living at #6 Derby Rd.
In Widnes, Lancashire, England.
Dec 24, 1904, SS Ionian manifest
Liverpool England to Halifax NS and St John, NB
Alexander (Alex) Wilson was travelling to Roche Percee, NWT, in
Steerage.
age 26, born in Lancashire, England, occupation miner.
travelling with James Molyneux, age 39, and his daughter
Sarah E. Molyneux
June 1, 1906, SS Virginia manifest
from Liverpool England to Montreal Quebec,
Alexander Wilson, age 27, travelling to Canada
with his wife, age 27, shown just as Mrs. Wilson,
and their daughter Mildred, age 3, all born in Lancashire.
all 3 destined for Bienfait Assiniboia
His nickname was "Happy Wilson",
not because he was known to be "happy" either.
Most history books record him as
A. C. Wilson or Alex C. Wilson.
Interesting enough, the middle name McMiken appears only
in the Cemetery records in Estevan,
and the letter M. in some 1931 Riot articles.
It does not show up in his registered name in England.
I can not find a picture anywhere of this man.
I would love to know if he was in the Masons,
or some other fraternity in the Estevan area.
Unlike some of the other big owners,
he was more hands on, and seen at the mines.
Everyone knew him, and everyone would have seen him.
He was NOT a "shadowy figure" like some of the others.
Unlike most of the other big mine owners,
he also lived in the area.
In 1967 era, he lived in Winnipeg, with his daughter Ida,
after he retired.
Alex Wilson and his wife's grave and headstone
Estevan City Cemetery
Section 9, Plot 31, Lot 2
(4th row from the Main entrance rd.)
taken Aug 2009
His
Working Career in Canada
Alex Wilson was Manager and Owner,
of many Lignite Coal Mines,
In SE. Saskatchewan.
He attended a mining school,
and earned his mining papers in the USA, in 1913.
Mines he Managed or Owned (years):
Bienfait Commercial Coal Co. (1)
Crescent Collieries (7)
M&S Coal Co. (12) (Manager 1926-38)
Bienfait Mines Ltd. (2) (Owned 1938-39)
Western Dominion Coal Co. (4)
Wilson Mine (Owned 1936-38)
Hannah Mine (Owned mid 40's)
Bienfait No2 Mine (Owned)
Over 60 years involved in the Coal Mine
business
in SE. Saskatchewan.
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Wilson, of
the Crescent Mines,
visited Riverside Farms per Mar 13, 1924 article
sorry quality is very poor but dates are important
This is a
Common Page to Five of my sites
Bienfait, Estevan, Pinto, Roche Percee and Taylorton.
When you return to your Village, town or city pages after viewing this page,
please pick the appropriate Index page link below, to return to that site.
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