April 29, 1861, he opened with Lloyd’s Minstrels in New York, closing May 25, following. Later he went to China in a government capacity, but not liking the cooking in the Celestial Empire, returned to the United States, arriving January 25, 1864.
(Charley) Morris and Wilson’s Minstrels opened at their permanent home in St. Louis, April 10, 1865; the partnership was dissolved in February, 1867.
Fred Wilson’s Minstrels toured for two or three years, and then Mr. Wilson made another foreign trip; but returned in the Summer of 1871.
In 1872 he was with Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels, and in 1875 made another foreign invasion, remaining abroad five years, returning in 1880 and joining Haverly’s Minstrels. Subsequently Mr. Wilson, whose specialty for many years had been clog dancing, except in 1852 when he was a clown in a circus, took up executive duties with many minstrel and other organizations. He also promoted several attractions of his own.
Fred Wilson was born in Boston, Mass., November 9, 1827.
Sam Hague, the famous English minstrel manager, began his career as a clog dancer.
He visited the United States in 1850 with his brothers Thomas and William; later he was a partner of Dick Sands, also Tim Hayes.
He toured the United States for several seasons with Hague’s Concert Company, and in 1865, with Cal. Wagner, formed Wagner and Hague’s Minstrels.
He also organized Hague’s Georgia Minstrels, a company of negro performers, and gave the first performance at Macon, Ga.
Later they sailed for England, and opened at Liverpool, July 9, 1866, and scored a failure. Subsequently Mr. Hague engaged white performers for the principal parts, and retaining some of the colored men, gave a performance that achieved success.