William & Maggie McLachlan was determined & driven

William McLachlan—1884–1885

In the summer of 1884, William McLachlan worked on roofing projects to help pay for 40 acres of land west of the Jordan River, which he purchased from the Evans brothers. By fall, he began building a modest two-room brick house on that land, hauling materials, constructing window frames, and laying a bridge across the irrigation ditch for access. He enlisted mason Ed Ashton to build the foundation and walls and completed roofing and trim work by December.

By January 1885, due to increasing federal enforcement of anti-polygamy laws, William—being a polygamist—went into hiding to avoid arrest for unlawful cohabitation. He moved out to his farm, sleeping in a rough lumber shed through harsh winter conditions. Despite this, he continued improving the property and made plans to bring his second wife, Margaret (Maggie), and their children to live there safely.

Through the early months of 1885, William and friends helped Maggie and the children move into the new home, furnishing it and setting up a life amid uncertainty. Margaret was resilient through the hardship. William busied himself with farm work, planting trees, building sheds, acquiring animals, and preparing for long-term settlement—all while avoiding marshals who sought to indict him and interrogate his wives.

Despite the threat of arrest, William McLachlan worked tirelessly to build a safe haven across the Jordan River—a modest brick home where his wife Margaret and their children could live in peace during this turbulent time of the 1880s anti-polygamy crackdowns in Utah