This is a real longshot but I'm at a brick wall with my particular Hugh Laird. According to "The History of Jo Daviess County" (Illinois):

LAIRD HUGH S. Farmer; Sec. 19; P. O. Council Hill ; born in Co. Down, Ireland, in 1807 ; came to the U. S. in 1832; was married in Philadelphia, in 1837, to Ellen Campbell ; she was born in Co. Antrim, Ireland, in 1817 ; they came to this Co. in 1843 ; owns 355 acres of land ; they have five children : James, now in Kansas, William, Sarah, John and David ; lost four, three died in infancy, and Hugh died April 10, 1872 ; Mr. L. was Supervisor seven years, and Trustee and School Di- rector since 1852 ; family attend the M. E. Church.

I'm guessing that Hugh's father's name may have been James, based on naming conventions that the family appeared to follow.

Although William, James, and Hugh Laird in your information were in this country much earlier than my Hugh, do you think there could be any kind of family connection? Cousins, uncles or something?