William & Maggie McLachlan

William McLachlan—A Faithful Builder in Hiding

Born in Scotland in 1840, William McLachlan was a skilled carpenter who converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to America in 1863. A man of faith and precision, McLachlan’s early role as clerk of the Church emigrant company aboard the Amazon reflected his lifelong dedication to detailed record keeping and religious service.

Margaret Naismith (McLachlan) was born in Scotland and immigrated to America, arriving in the Salt Lake Valley in 1874. Described by those who knew her as a busy, strong-willed, and industrious woman, she spoke with a distinctive Scottish accent that stayed with her throughout her life. Her days were full of labor and love—her hands were nearly always found in a batch of bread dough or scrubbing clothes in a washtub. Despite the hardships of pioneer life, she faithfully raised her six children with determination and care.

In the 1870s and 1880s, William rose in church leadership, serving as mission president in New Zealand and later as president of the Pioneer Stake in Utah. But by the mid-1880s, William’s life took a drastic turn—he was a polygamist during a time of aggressive federal enforcement of anti-polygamy laws. Fearing arrest and the financial ruin it would bring to his families, he went "underground." leaving Margaret to manage the home and family on her own for extended periods.

In 1884, anticipating trouble, William purchased 40 acres of land “over Jordan”, far from Salt Lake City, and began building a modest farmhouse for his second wife, Margaret (Maggie) Naismith, and their five children. He personally designed and built the home, often working under threat of capture. Journal entries describe his lonely labors—constructing window frames, building bridges over irrigation ditches, and hauling lumber in the freezing cold.

By March 1885, Maggie and the children moved into the unfinished home, and William effectively disappeared for nearly eight years, surfacing occasionally to provide support or finish small projects. He used money earned from carpentry work, including labor on the Manti Temple, to support his family in hiding.

Though he was never arrested, the long separation and fear took its toll. Financially ruined by the ordeal, William was never able to complete Maggie’s home. Worse still, in 1894, the family lost three sons to diphtheria, further devastating their future. an all-too-common and feared disease of the time. Margaret herself would eventually succumb to the long-term effects of the illness, passing away in 1905.

In time, the surviving son, John L. McLachlan, inherited the home and 30 of the original 40 acres, and miraculously managed to raise his wife and ten children on that small patch of land. William’ & Maggie’s story is one of resilience, faith, and the sacrifices made in the name of family and conviction

4499 south 3200 west