Margaret Webster Esplin

Hearing With The Heart

Margaret Webster Esplin

Margaret climbed up and began throwing furniture out of the wagon.  Her patient and kind husband John yelled at the top of his lungs. "What are you doing?  We will need every stick of furniture."

 “I will go where you go John, but I can't walk another step.”

They were coming from the hot Muddy mission in the southern desert of Nevada. When Brigham Young released them he advised the Muddy Mission saints to go to Long valley soon to be called Ordervile in southern Utah. 

Margaret longed to go to her old home in Nephi where their first 8 children had been born.  She longed for the cool evenings and dear friends.  She tucked 2 year old David against her body and nestled baby Clara, her ninth child into her arms as the wagon jolted along the rough terrain. Having crossed the river over 30 times, walking in sand and mud with 5 children under 10 years of age had taken its toll on Margaret. It took them over 3 months to make their way from the Muddy to Long Valley. 

As Margaret settled down in the wagon she thought of the first time she had heard the gospel (in 1846), at ten years old in Lancashire England. Margaret was the 8th in a family of fifteen children.      

When Margaret first learned about the gospel restored through Joseph Smith, she might not have heard all that was said but the spirit speaks louder than words. She knew in her heart it was true. In her neighborhood it was asserted that the new religion taught principles so absurd that even a Hottentot would not believe them.  In spite of the opposition all of Margaret's family who were over eight years old were eventually baptized.

In 1849 the family prepared to come to America. Surely the family gathered around to hear a letter from Margaret's sister Lydia, 8 years older than Margaret, who had already arrived in America. Six-year-old Hannah would have been one of the most excited.  I imagine she jumped up and down and clapped her hands. Exclaiming,  “When will we, get to go to America?"

A year later when the family, left for Liverpool it was a bitter sweet occasion.   It had only been three months since Hannah was buried next to the small graves of her sisters Elizabeth, Betsy and Mary.

As they boarded the ship the family consisted of Henry the father, who had finally been baptized, his wife Ann and ten children.  Margaret was fourth oldest.  There were three girls, four younger brothers and the baby twins.  The oldest brother John who had just lost a wife also traveled with them.  The family boarded the ship “Josiah Bradlee” and set sail for New Orleans. After a voyage of eight weeks and four days, the children could hardly contain their anticipation as they made their way to St. Louis where Lydia and her new husband James Brooks lived. 

After visiting with Lydia the family went on to Council Bluffs to join the saints for the trek west. 

At Council Bluffs tragedy struck the Henry Webster family. Their father Henry, died December 16, 1850 of chlorea marbus, severe stomach cramps and Rachel, age 18, died on the 30th of the same month. Henry, age 14, died 6 months later from sunstroke. The grandparents in England wanted to help, but only if the family would renounce their beliefs in the restored gospel. Ann told them they would not turn their back on the truth.

The family must have lain awake at night wondering how they would ever get enough supplies to walk all that way to the Salt Lake Valley.  Margaret missed her father and she missed her dear sister Rachel. She thought about her grandparent’s home in England.  As these things raced through her mind the spirit must have whispered peace to her heart, “All things will work together for thy good!”.

Ann Rigby Webster was industrious.  She, with her eight remaining children made preparations to make the trek west.  She would provide for her family. Ann eventually took up the profession of a mid-wife.

            Ann kept her older daughter Mary Ann to help with the family and sent 15-year-old Margaret to go to work for David Dixon, a family with four small children. 

 Ann Rigby Webster

Mr. Dixon took a liking to Margaret and wanted Margaret to accompany his family to Utah. Before starting west Margaret desired to go across the Missouri River to see her family and ask permission. Mr. Dixon refused saying, he would see her mother.  Margaret's mother, Ann told Mr. Dixon she wanted her daughter to come home.  Mr. Dixon was determined to have his own way. He told Margaret that her mother had given consent for Margaret to go to Utah with them.  

Soon after arriving in Utah, Mr. Dixon decided to go to San Bernardino California and wanted Margaret to go with him as a second wife. Margaret refused and found work with another family. She vowed to marry the first honorable single man she met.

The rest of Margaret's family came to Utah in the Uriah Curtis Company, and arrived in Salt Lake City, just as the conference of the church was in session. (Oct. 1, 1852)          

When the Webster family arrived in Utah they had a difficult time finding Margaret. They had a notice given in conference meeting.  Margaret was at the meeting but on account of deafness caused by measles as a child she didn't hear the notice.  A short time later she met one of her brothers on the street.  This was a joyous occasion.  Margaret went to live with her family at Big Cottonwood.

It was in Big Cottonwood that Margaret met a very outstanding, single man John Esplin. They soon married and raised a family of 13 children.  John and Margaret lived in Nephi, the Muddy Mission in Nevada and Long Valley, Utah.  Margaret endured many trials, and always stood strong in the gospel truths.

In her last days, Margaret became so deaf that she could not hear anything, but she was still faithful in attending her duties in the church and attending her meetings. She said she could feel the spirit even if she could not hear what was said. She learned to hear with her heart.