 Wilson's parents were living in the North where her father was teaching, but her mother did not want her children born as Yankees; Ellen Wilson accordingly arranged to stay with family in Gainesville for the births of her first two daughters.Margaret attended local schools, sometimes associated with the colleges where her father taught during her growing years.In his will, Wilson's father had bequeathed her an annuity of $2,500 annually (worth $ today) as long as that amount did not exceed one-third of the annual income of his estate, and as long as she remained unmarried.