Alexander Craig Mcmiken Wilson

My Original Opening on this page

I wrote the above in 2009, and then on Apr 1, 2011, a big surprise, and not even an April Fool's joke! I received an email from Margaret Cuddington, the wife of Douglas Cuddington, the Grandson of Alex Wilson. Within the email was wonderful pictures, a Life Story,and Family Tree for Alex Wilson. It just doesn't get better than that, for information to add to this page.By the time you read his life story,you will get a feel for the man and a taste of his early life, as well as his Mine Manager life. Reading what he went thru, you have to respect him. Below incorporates both info I found and that from Mrs. Cuddington, I hope you enjoy the information as much as I did.

• Several versions of his name can be found:
  • Birth Certificate- Alexander Craig Wilson
  • Marriage Certificate- Alexander Wilson
  • Family Bible- Alexander Craig McMiken Wilson
• Christened Mar 2, 1879 in Burtonwood, Lancashire. Burtonwood is a village between St Helens and Warrington.

Alex came to Canada in Dec. 1904,stayed until Nov 1905,then returned to England. He then came back to Canada in May 1906 with his wife Ellen and daughter Hildred.

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.

1908 he was actually President of the U.M.W.A. at the only mine working at the time. By June 17, 1939 he was giving evidence as General Superintendent of Western Dominion Collieries, before a Federal Board of Conciliation. Quoted as saying “ I don't run a Union, I run a Coal Mine”

In 1911 census Alex is shown as Anglican Religion, and as a Coal Miner for his occupation. English nationality. age 31, b- Dec 1880 in England wife- Ellen, age 31, Feb 1881, Hildred Wilson, age 8, Ida Wilson, age 2. They were 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.

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 in the Family Bible as noted above. (and the letter M. in some 1931 Riot articles.) It does not show up in his registered name in England.

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. We know from his 1965 life story he lived at Creighton Lodge at that time. In 1967 era, he lived in Winnipeg, with his daughter Ida, after he retired.

received an email Mar 2011 from Sherry Black McNair who clarified Alex's family tree for me, with Thanks! Here is what she wrote, edited down a wee bit, with some additions by myself.

“Elizabeth Wood, older sister to Jane Ellen, married James Molyneux. You will note in the passenger lists that Alex was with Elizabeth and her children when she first came over. One of those children was my grandma, Florence Molyneux. Sadly, Elizabeth died Sept 23, 1908 and is buried in the old Taylorton cemetery along with her young daughter, Jessie (d- Oct 5, 1905, 14 months) (the tall reddish granite grave marker.) And you have already noted that the families were residing together. James Molyneux stayed in Bienfait with his two oldest children, Mary (Polly) Molyneux married Joe Bembridge, and Isaac Molyneux; and he sent the youngest two, Florence Molyneux, and baby James Edward Molyneux (b- May 31, 1908 in Taylorton), back to England where they were raised by James and Elizabeth's sisters. In 1913 Florence Molyneux returned to Canada to live with Joe and Polly Bembridge, who were working at the mines in Lethbridge, and from there took out homestead land near Lucky Strike. There Florence Molyneux met and married Bill Black, a neighbour and a coalminer from County Durham, England and there they stayed. Right after Elizabeth died, Alex and Jane Ellen looked after Aunty Polly. Uncle Ike went to stay with Thomas and Jane Bastian in Estevan, as Jane was a sister to James Molyneux. Uncle Ike joined up for WWI and stayed in England after the war, living in Parr, St. Helens and raising a family there. James Edward Molyneux, the baby… he joined up for WWII. Joe Bembridge signed up for WWI the same day he filed for his homestead at Lucky Strike, Alberta. I don't know how Aunty Polly did it, alone, pregnant with 3 small children, but she proved up that homestead. After the war, about 1924 Joe took his family back to Bienfait where Uncle Alex (Wilson) offered him a job in the mine and a house next door to theirs. Just an aside- James Molyneux's brother was Aaron Molyneux, also a miner/farmer at Bienfait. In fact, nearly all of James siblings came: Thomas Harrison was the son of James's oldest sister Elizabeth and her husband Henry Harrison. Most of those folks are over by Midale. Jane Molyneux married Thomas Bastian (both buried in Estevan), and their son Josiah Bastian and his family moved to Kelowna, BC. Alfred Molyneux worked at Shand brickyard and had a large family, which he removed to Drumheller to work in the mines there. William Molyneux moved to Edmonton where he raised a family.”

Isaac (Ike) Molyneux, enlisted in WWI, Jan 3, 1916 in Estevan, b- Sept 18, 1897 in St. Helens, Lancashire, England. occupation shown as Coal Miner, single, Methodist Reg # 925176 son of James Molyneux, living at 203 Parr Stocks Rd, Parr, St. Helens, Lanc, England.

I already had a web page for the Bastian family in my Estevan pages

Working Career in Canada

Mines he Managed or Owned (years):

• Bienfait Commercial Coal Co. (1)
• Crescent Collieries Ltd. (7) manager 1919-1926
• Manitoba & Saskatchewan Coal Company Ltd. (12) (Manager 1926-38)^{Note 1}
• Bienfait Mines Ltd. (2) (Owned 1938-39) (this was Wilson Mine #1)
• Western Dominion Collieries. (4)
• Eastern Collieries of Bienfait Ltd. (Wilson Mine #2) (Owned 1936-38)
• Havanah Coal Mine Ltd. (1943- 12 years)^{note 2}
• Bienfait No2 Mine (Owned)
• Souris Coal Mine- Shand SK -1914
  • Note 1: Owned M&S Mar 2,1936 when the Loader building at the end of the tipple, burnt down at 6pm.The loader machine in the building was valued at $5,000.00 It was used to load the larger lumps of coal. Note 2- there was a Havannah Colliery,near Parr, in Lancashire,also a Havannah Lane,and Havannah is shown as a place name on Newton Rd, Parr, where Alex's wife Ellen was born and probably raised. Somehow Alex dropped the one “n” is all and this would have been where the name came from Parr is now part of St. Helens

Over 60 years involved in the Coal Mine business in SE. Saskatchewan.

Margaret Cuddinton Info

All the information below is from Margaret “Marg” Cuddington, downloads are in Adobe .pdf format

50th Anniversary

50th Wedding Anniversary, Dec 25, 1951
Back Row- Howard Cuddington, Ivy Cuddington, Gordon Cuddington, Douglas “Doug” Cuddington, Margaret “Marg” Cuddington, Thomas “Tom” Richard Cuddington
Front Row- Ida Lewis, nee Wilson, Bonnie Cuddington, Alex Wilson , Jane “Ellen” Woods, Dianne Cuddington, Hildred Cuddington, nee Wilson

Newspaper articles re: Anniversary:

Short Autobiography

June 15, 1965 Alex wrote a brief story of his life to a Mr. J. W. McCai g, Esq ^(Note) , Chairman, Saskatchewan Jubilee Centennial Corporation, Regina:

1965 Letter

Then also in 1965 Alex wrote a more Complete Story of his life, he was 86 at the time.

8 pages in Adobe .pdf format SUMMARY:

• Page 1: His early life, arrival in Canada, Taylorton and Tabor AB
• Page 2: His working experience, work with boilers, and his education
• Page 3: Prospecting and Searching for Coal and Water in Estevan, Bienfait area
• Page 4:He operated the First Mining and Cutting Machine in 1908, at Western Dominion Coal Co. Ltd.
• Page 5:Mine fires in Underground Mines
• Page 6:Memories and Experiences of 75 years, re: Labour, Unions, and strikes
• Page 7:You don't read many items from a Manager/Business man that describes Unions, Groups and Organizations in every walk of life, not just the workers. I find most managers never see that point of view. My experience is most hate unions, failing to realize they belong to one themselves!
• Page 8:Problems with water in the “First” Crescent Collieries

Original of this 8 page document is in the SK Provincial Archives, per notation on page 1 thanks to Margaret Cuddington for this information and pictures.