Hugh Wilkens Colton was born to Sterling Driggs Colton and Nancy Wilkens Colton on 11 January 1901, in a family home on Ashley Creek, Maeser, Vernal, Uintah County, Utah. He died 14 April 1990 (age 89) at home in Maeser, Vernal, Utah. He was the youngest of ten; his mother was 48 when he was born. Colton served in the Eastern States Mission from 1920 to 1923 (27 months). He served under Presidents George W. McCune and B. H. Roberts, and was District President and Assistant to President Roberts. Following his mission he married Marguerite Maughan, on 23 September 1925, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together they had four children (Sterling Don (donor), Nancy Carol (Bradley), Hugh Maughan, and John Phillip). He earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School and practiced law in Uintah County from 1929 until his death. He was also called to active military duty for the Combat Engineers, National Guard, and fought in several battles during World War II.