Margaret Green Whitehead 1844-1916

Margaret Green Whitehead

Margaret was born on 27 October 1844 in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the daughter of John and Mary Bradshaw Green. Sometime after her birth, the family relocated to Tintwistle, Derbyshire, England.

The family became interested in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Margaret was young. She and her sister Alice were baptized in January of 1853 in Oldham, Lancashire, England. They belonged to the Tintwistle branch of the Church. 

Margaret's father, John and her mother Mary were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on 10 March 1854. John is said to have immigrated to Utah earlier than his wife and children. Margaret and her mother Mary immigrated on 23 April 1862 on the ship John J. Boyd. They arrived in New York City on 1 June 1862.  They traveled with 700 other Mormon immigrants--the first ship of the 1862 season. 

Mother and daughter joined the John R. Murdock pioneer company to cross the plains on 24 July 1862 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on 27 September 1862. Margaret's older sister, Alice, married Edmund Buckley in 1859 in England. They immigrated in the following  year.

After arriving in Utah, Margaret and her parents lived in a small log house near Farmington, Utah. They raised and milked cows on pasture ground there. Margaret took the cows to the pasture in the mornings after being milked fand brought them back in to be milked in the evening. 

Margaret had black hair and blue eyes and stood about 5' 4" tall as an adult. Many enjoyed her cheerful disposition. It is said she loved music and had a beautiful voice.

In the spring of 1863, William Whitehead came to John Green's home for a visit having known the family in England. In all of one day he asked for Margaret's hand in marriage, proposed to her, married her the next day and took her as his wife to live in Franklin, Franklin county, Idaho. 

The couple lived in a one-room log cabin with a dirt floor, dirt roof and a fireplace to cook upon. This was all very common for the time and place. The cabin was located in the old fort on the west side of the square in Franklin. 

The couple's first son William James was born 8 April 1864--purported to be the first white baby boy born in Franklin county. Later she had twins John Charles and Hannah Jane on 18 October 1865.

Margaret was a very neat  housekeeper. She spun wool and made clothing for her family and others. She helped others in the community with her nursing and midwife skills. It is said that she was very successful with her nursing because she was humble and prayerful. If someone was not able to pay her for her services she did not charge them, but she also accepted food or help for pay.


Her husband William died in 1881 when Margaret was just 37 years old leaving her with their 9 children still to rear. Margaret also reared Alice Whitehead a daughter belonging to William and his deceased polygamist wife, Alice Butterworth.

The couple had the following children together:

1. William James 1864
2. Hannah Jane 1865
3. John Charles 1865
4. Willard Richard 1868
5. Abram Lorenzo 1869
6. Margaret Elizabeth 1871
7. Mary Green 1872
8. Peter Green 1874
9. Martha 1876
10. Alice Ethel 1878
11. Jeannette 1880 

Margaret Whitehead Family

Back row left:  Jeanette, Abraham Lorenzo, Peter Green, Mary Green

Front row left:  Martha, William James, Margaret Green Whitehead, John Charles, Margaret Elizabeth

Margaret continued nursing to make a living for her and her children. She lived to the age of 72 dying of influenza on 4 December 1916 in Franklin, Franklin, Idaho.