Margaret Newton was born July 5, 1899 in the family home in Salt Lake City to Sam Smith Newton and Sarah Elizabeth Parker. She was the ninth child in a family of ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Her father became a polygamist in 1901 when he married Amy Susan Johnson, who was her mother's cousin. Sam and Amy moved to Canada in 1904. Margaret was only six years old when her mother Sarah died on December 3, 1905. (It was said of a broken heart.) Margaret was taken in by her older brother Charles to be raised. He was newly married and always a very stern man and a bit of a tyrant, so she did not have a happy childhood.
In John Low's memories of his mother, he stated that when she was a little older, she went to live with her sister Laura and kept house for her and her husband Elmer Thomas and also took a secretarial course while there.
Beth, her sister, who was ten years older than Margaret went to Canada at some point and lived with her mother's sister Aunt Louie Wynder. She worked in the town office and met and eventually married Joseph Low in 1910. They had two sons, Joseph Newton, who died at birth, January 12, 1912, and Richard Lloyd, born August 18,1915 who died on September 7, 1915. Beth died a few days after the birth of Richard on August 23, 1915. Needless to say, Joe was heartbroken.
Joe met Marge and said that he waited for her to grow up and married her on June 25, 1919 in the Salt Lake Temple. She was twenty years old at the time and had been working as a telephone operator. They returned to Cardston to live. Some years later a lady from Cardston phoned Beth Stubbs to tell about her mother's arrival in Cardston. "She and Dad arrived on the train and many were there to meet them. The lady said they had never seen such elegance in Cardston, as she stepped from the train. She was tall and slim, with wonderful clothing and was just beautiful."
To this union were born six children: Elizabeth, born April 25, 1921, twins Donald Richard and Robert Douglas, born October 17, 1924, Helen Joan, born October 31, 1929, John Sylvester, born September 11, 1932, and Thomas Howard, stillborn September 23, 1938.
Beth(Stubbs) says:"She adjusted well for a city girl- she mixed well with non members as well as church members, even joining the UFA ladies club. She was a member of the Mothers' Club, which met once a month. When it was Mother's turn, there was a lot of cooking and cleaning. All members were known as good cooks and they did their best for the "occasion".
She came to a small town and had to have chickens, g,ow a garden, chase the cow and calf from the garden and raise five children practically on her own. She was always well-groomed- the corselet went on first thing in the morning and she never looked messy or unkempt. Life wasn't easy. She walked everywhere either pushing a buggy or a cart with kids in it. She cooked with a coal stove, specializing in chocolate cake and other desserts, made bread by hand, bottled fruit, kept a tidy house and "put up with Dad".
She spent her life giving service in and out of the church. She was a Primary president, Gleaner Girl teacher, Ward and Stake Relief Society President for many years. She didn't go to Sunday School, but had a good dinner ready when the family arrived home. She would leave the children at home while she attended Sacrament Meeting.
Helen said, "Mother was very public-minded, she did a lot of service for other people; in sickness or death she was always there with a helping hand. At Christmas she would remember those who weren't as fortunate as we were. She always supported my dad in his public offices any way that she could."
She had diabetes for several years and in March of 1961 her health started to fail. She passed away on the 31st of July 1961 and is buried in the Cardston cemetery. She was respected by all and loved by many.
(This biography is taken from memories of her descendents given at a family reunion held in California in 1997.)
