William Whitehead married Margaret McGuire in Albany. They settled in Gnowangerup c1870, one of he first in the area. At that time there were about 12 households within a radius of about 25 miles of the Gnowangerup Townsite, and by 1873 this population had doubled.
Margaret and William Whitehead began their married life at Yougenup Spring and were the builders of a stone house, the shell of which remains [in 2010] close to the Broomehill Road at the entrance of Gnowangerup town. It was built, however, long before the present road was conceived. In its day the track followed the creek so the main door and windows look in that direction.
Margaret's husband spent long periods away cutting sandalwood.
In 1880 the Whiteheads son was born and his first stumbling steps were to be taken around the Yougenup homestead, far from the wide world he was one day to tour curiously and successfully.
"Fruit of the Country" by Merle Bignell.
This child was later to be elected the President of the Norwalk Tire and Rubber Co. of Comecticut in 1928.
Whitehead Street in Gnowangerup is named after the family.