Margaret was born on July 23, 1845 in Staten Island, New York.
 She was the eldest daughter of William Henry Vanderbilt and Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt.
 Her older brother was Cornelius Vanderbilt II and younger siblings William Kissam Vanderbilt, Emily Thorn Vanderbilt, Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly, Frederick William Vanderbilt, Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb and George Washington Vanderbilt II.

She was the granddaughter of the Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and his first wife, Sophia (née Johnson) Vanderbilt.
Margaret was born on July 23, 1845 in Staten Island, New York.  She was the eldest daughter of William Henry Vanderbilt and Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt.  Her older brother was Cornelius Vanderbilt II and younger siblings William Kissam Vanderbilt, Emily Thorn Vanderbilt, Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly, Frederick William Vanderbilt, Eliza Osgood Vanderbilt Webb and George Washington Vanderbilt II.
She was the granddaughter of the Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt and his first wife, Sophia (née Johnson) Vanderbilt.
Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard