Margaret Miller Etchison had a difficult life: giving birth to 13 (or, possibly, 14) children before she died at the age of 42.

Margaret married James Mead Ackerman when she was sixteen and he was eighteen. An inscription on a picture of Margaret said:

"Married: J. M. Ackerman & the said M. M. Etchison were united in the holy bonds of matrimony on the banks of the Red River by the Reverend W. R. Manning on October 7, 1887 in Big Indian Territory."

Margaret and James' children were:

Eddie Rogers Ackerman (1888-1964)
Abraham Frank Ackerman (1891-1925)
Sarah Annabelle Ackerman (1892-1980)
Margaret Mae Ackerman (1894-1984)
Bessie Lee Ackerman (1896-1981)
James Hamilton Ackerman (1898-1966)
Georgia Elizabeth Ackermsn (1900-1990)
William Robert Ackerman (1902-1980)
Louise Marie Ackerman (1903-1986)
Harry Ackerman (1905-1967)
David Manning Ackerman (1908-1981)
Josephine M. Ackerman (Feb 1910- )(only record:1910 census)
Evelyn Marie Ackerman (1910-2000)
Frances Jennette Ackerman (1912-1952)

Margaret's died in her 14th pregnancy.

After Margaret's death, James went to work in India and then moved permanently to California. He left the children to raise themselves.

Margaret is buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The cemetery is not being maintained, so all of the graves are overgrown.

The inscription on the headstone reads:

Mrs. J. M. Ackerman
Dec 21, 1871
Feb 7, 1913
"Our Mother"

There is a small grave marker at the foot of Margaret's grave which reads "J M A". No one knows if this is just another marker representing Margaret's married name of "Mrs. James Mead Ackerman", or if it might be for a daughter named "Josephine M. Ackerman".
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Margaret's obituary:

February 7, 1913 - Las Vegas Optic (Las Vegas, New Mexico) - February 7, 1913 issue

DEATH ENDS SUFFERING OF A BRAVE WOMAN

Mrs. J. M. Ackerman dies early this morning; was mother of large family.

At 7:30 o'clock this morning at the Becker hospital, Mrs. J. M. Ackerman died from the result of taking an overdose of medicine some time ago. Mrs. Ackerman had been at the hospital only about one week and at one time there seemed to be a chance of her recovery. Last night, however, her condition became alarming and this morning she passed away.

Mrs. Ackerman was born in Alabama in 1872, where she spent most of her younger days. She was married in Oklahoma 25 years ago to J. M. Ackerman; her parents were at that time living in Texas.

Mrs. and Mrs. Ackerman came to New Mexico about ten years ago and have resided in this state since that time, living about two years in Albuquerque and later in Las Vegas. Mr. Ackerman was employed on the Santa Fe railway as a locomotive engineer, but lately entered the dairy business. Mrs. Ackerman was a loving wife, industrious and home-loving. She made many friends during her residence in Las Vegas and had been all her life a member of the Methodist church. She will be missed by all her friends but those who will suffer most are several children who survive her, six being under 9 years of age, and it is to these especially that the entire community's sympathy goes out.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Ackerman is survived by 13 children. They are Mrs. W. Moulton, A. F. Ackerman, Sallie, Maggie, Bessie, James M., Georgie, William, Louise, Harry, David, Evelyn, and Frances Ackerman, the latter only nine months old. The funeral will be held from the Methodist church Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Rev., E. C. Anderson will conduct the services.