James and Margaret Dutton kids are Elsa Dutton, John Dutton Sr, and Spencer Dutton. Elsa Dutton is the major character in the Yellowstone prequel 1883.
The original heads of the Dutton family are James and Margaret Dutton. The Dutton couple are primary characters in the Paramount+ show, 1883. 1883 is the prequel series of Kevin Costner starrer Yellowstone. The series includes a talented cast consisting of Finn Little, Kelly Reilly, Luke Grimes, Forrie J Smith, and more.
James is a former military man who served the Confederate Army in the American Civil War. Originally from Tennessee, James and his wife Margaret leave their home state in search of a better. They eventually arrive in Fort Worth, Texas, from where they take a wagon train to Oregon.
James and Margaret are the great-grandparents of John Dutton III, a Montana rancher and the main character of Yellowstone. The prequel shows 1883 and 1993 followed earlier members of the Dutton family and answered how they eventually ended up at the Yellowstone ranch in Montana.
How Many Kids Did James And Margaret Dutton Have?
James and Margaret Dutton have three kids named Elsa Dutton, John Dutton Sr, and Spencer Dutton. All of them gave birth to their own children and made huge Dutton family.
Elsa died at the end of 1883, while Spencer was born in the late 1880s.
Likewise, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s onscreen son John Dutton Sr is a child during the events of 1883. He is shown to be a fully grown adult in the spinoff series, 1923.
1. Elsa Dutton (Oldest)
Elsa was the first child of James Dillard Dutton and Margaret Dutton. She is also the narrator of the Paramount+ series.
Dutton was born in Tennessee on April 9, 1866, a year after the American Civil War ended. She initially fell in love with a cowhand named Ennis and even got the blessing of her father James. However, Ennis was later killed in an attack.
Elsa later developed feelings for a Comanche warrior named Sam. After Sam saved her life on two occasions, she married him. However, Dutton is convinced by her parents to continue with their journey to Oregon.
Elsa promised Sam that she would return to him once her parents settled down. Unfortunately, her promise remained unfulfilled as she got injured during a Lakota attack and eventually died.
Besides 1883, Elsa is also the narrator of the Yellowstone spinoff series, 1923. Actress Isabel May played the character of Elsa Dutton in 1883. Her acting credits include movies and TV shows like Alexa & Katie, I Want You Back, Young Sheldon, Run Hide Fight, Let’s Scare Julie, The Wonder Twins, and more.
2. John Dutton Sr. (Middle)
John Dutton Sr was the second child and first son of James Dillard Dutton and Margaret Dutton. He is also the grandfather of Yellowstone’s lead character John Dutton III.
Born in 1878, John was a child at the time when the events of 1883 took place. Child actor Audie Rick played the part in 1883. Similarly, in the spinoff series 1923, John is a fully grown adult played by actor James Badge Dale.
After the death of his parents, John is mentored by his uncle Jacob Dutton (played by Harrison Ford). He lived in his family ranch in Montana with his wife Emma and his son Jack when he got involved in a conflict with Irish sheepherder Banner Creighton.
John got killed in an ambush by Irish sheepherders during his return from Bozeman to Yellowstone. He died instantly after Banner opened fire a Thompson submachine gun on him.
3. Spencer Dutton (Youngest)
Spencer Dutton was the youngest child and second son of James and Margaret Dutton. He was born in the late 1880s.
The character of Spencer is featured in the 1923 and Yellowstone series. The youngest brother of Elsa Dutton, he never got the chance to meet his elder sister.
Spencer joined the US Army during World War I and went to Europe to fight the war. After the war, he traveled to Africa and worked as a hunter for the Protectorate of Kenya. There, he fell in love with a woman named Alexandra. Dutton proposes to her during a trip away from their base camp in Africa.
After the death of his brother John, Spencer returned to his family ranch in Montana to help out at the ranch.
James And Margaret Dutton Family Tree
James and Margaret Dutton family tree originated in Tennessee. The Dutton family is settled in Yellowstone Ranch, Montana in the 21st century.
James was the original patriarch of the Dutton family. He was a homesteader from Tennessee who left his home state with his wife and kids to secure a better future for his family.
Dutton was also a Civil War Veteran; he fought as a ranking Captain for the Confederate Army. James eventually settled down in Montana where he established the family Yellowstone Ranch.
James was the younger brother of Jacob Dutton and also had a sister named Claire Dutton. With his wife Margaret, Dutton had three children: Elsa Dutton, John Dutton Sr, and Spencer Dutton.
Moreover, James’ son John Sr carried forward the family name with his two sons Jack Dutton and John Dutton II. Similarly, John Dutton III, the lead character of Yellowstone, is the grandson of John Dutton Sr and the great-grandson of James Dutton.
John III has a younger brother named Peter Dutton. He is married to Evelyn Dutton and has four children with his wife: Lee Dutton, Beth Dutton, Kayce Dutton, and Jamie Dutton.
Further, exploring the family, John III’s children are also all married, except for Lee Dutton. His daughter Beth Dutton is married to Rip Wheeler.
Likewise, his son Kayce Dutton has a partner named Monica Long and a son named Tate Dutton. Similarly, John’s youngest son Jamie is married to Christina and also has a son in his family.
What Happened To James And Margaret Dutton In 1923?
James and Margaret Dutton died long before the events of 1923 took place. James and Margaret were the main characters in Yellowstone prequel series 1883.
1883 ended with James and Margaret settling down in Montana following the death of their daughter Elsa. The Duttons set up their farm near Elsa’s resting place in Paradise Valley, Montana; the property will eventually become the Yellowstone Ranch.
But, by the beginning of the 1883 spinoff series 1923, James and Margaret were long dead. 1923 featured the story of James’ elder brother Jacob Dutton and his wife Cara Dutton. The pair (played by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren) move to the ranch after Margaret invited them to help her on the farm following James’ death. However, Margaret was dead before they reached Montana.
As they have no biological children of their own, Jacob and Cara raise James’ sons John Sr and Spencer Dutton.
How Does James Dutton Die?
James Dutton was killed from gunshot wounds in 1893. His death came at the hands of horse thieves, 10 years after establishing the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.
James’ death was not shown in 1883 or 1923. It was featured in a flashback scene that aired as the eighth episode of Yellowstone season four.
While chasing horse thieves away from his ranch, Dutton succeeded in neutralizing most of the attackers. However, he also gets shot during the confrontation. James reaches his home alive but eventually collapsed and passed away due to his injuries.
On the other hand, James wife Margaret didn’t suffer a violent demise but her death was no less tragic than her husband’s death.
Margaret’s death is not shown onscreen. Instead, her passing is narrated by Elsa Dutton during a scene in 1923. According to the narrator, Margaret froze to death during a winter in Montana; she passed away not long after the demise of her husband.
Before dying, Dutton wrote a letter to Jacob and Cara Dutton, asking them to come to the Yellowstone ranch. When they finally arrive at the farm, they found Margaret’s lifeless body in the snow. Her two sons John and Spencer were also severely starved and almost frozen to death. John and Spencer are rescued by Jacob and Cara who raised the two as their own children.
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