ANTOINETTE CLEVELAND
My ancestors on both sides were Americans. The first having come to America with the Pilgrims. My father, Henry A. Cleveland was the first and only one of his people to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, joining when he was a young man. He was a mason and a farmer.My ancestors were industrious, honest and firm in their convictions. Father was second counselor to Bishop William R. Smith of Centerville Ward, Utah.
I was born in Nauvoo, Illinois on June 20, 1844, just one week previous to the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, prophet and patriarch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My grandmother, Mary Knight, was a sister of Newell K. Knight.
In 1852 I came with my parents to Utah in Captain Wimmer's company. We settled at Centerville, Utah in the fall of that year where I resided until 1877, when I moved with my husband to a homestead in what is now Syracuse Ward, Utah. We lived there until 1882 when we again moved to a farm in what is now Layton, Utah, where we have since resided. My husband died on the 7th of Dec. 1910, leaving me very lonely. I was educated in what was known as the common school of Centerville, Utah. Was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when about ten years of age. My travels since my marriage have consisted in trips to Idaho and Nevada to visit my children. My experiences while living on a homestead miles from neighbors, many times alone with my small children--my husband being away a great deal, have developed courage and endurance, which have stood me in good stead many times since. These traits are noticeable in my children also. My life work has been to raise my large family and it has kept me busy. Passing through, as I did, in my childhood, the trials of pioneer life, created in my childish heart a desire for a peaceful, comfortable home, which now at age 72, I am enjoying, surrounded by my children who I am happy to say are all good Latter-day Saints, true to the principles of the gospel. The trials and hardships of my early life are forgotten in seeing my family as I have striven to have them.