Margaret McCreath was born on 23 November 1823 in Elderslie, Renfrew, Scotland. She and four other siblings emigrated to the United States
Margaret married William Lyle at Stark County, Illinois on 30 August 1848. William was a farmer. In 1870 their home was at Kewanee, Henry, Illinois. They had nine children. In In 1870 the family comprised:
William S Lyle age 45, head
Margaret Lyle age 45, wife
James Lyle age 20, son
Mary A. Lyle age 17, daughter
Margaret Lyle age 15, daughter
William Lyle age13, son
Lucy Lyle age 11, daughter
Agnes Lyle age 9, daughter
Thomas Lyle age 7, son
John Lyle age 5, son