Four years after Thomas Rowell Leavitt married Ann Eliza Jenkins, he married a second wife, Antonett Davenport. She was born 2 Sept. 1843 at Hancock, McDonnough County, Illinois. They were married at the endowment house at Salt Lake City by Pres. Brigham Young 9 March, 1861. She was as beautiful young lady, tall and graceful with dark hair and eyes that sparkled. She loved life and people and especially her religion. She understood the principles of plural marriage practiced in the church at that time. The first wife had to give her consent before this marriage could take place.
Two apartments were built exactly alike, a large living room, and one bedroom downstairs and bedrooms upstairs. Ann Eliza and her family lived in one apartment and Antonett and her family lived in the other one. After this house was completed Antonett moved from her home in Wellsville. While Antonett lived in Wellsville, Thomas bought her a four-lidded cook stove. All the neighbors came to see it. She had plenty of work and hard times all of her life. Like most pioneer mothers life was hard, especially as her husband could not be at home while their children were young. Most of their children were born on the farm. About this time persecution was rife against all polygamist families in Utah.
When her tenth child was due, Antonett’s husband Thomas, was in hiding in the canyons south of Wellsville. He felt impressed that he was needed at home. He traveled on foot in the dead of the night. When he arrived home he found his beloved wife, Antonett dead, not being able to deliver her child. Dr. Armsley at Logan had been sent for but declined to come. His own child had the croup. When he came the next morning Grandfather met him at the door and ordered him off the place. He said, “My wife is dead. You would not come when we needed you and we don’t need you now.”
Antonett was strict with her children but a wonderful mother, a staunch Latter-day Saint, a loving wife and neighbor. She died at the age of 37 years and is buried in the Wellsville cemetery. What a comfort Ann Eliza and Antonett had been to each other. They shared their joys and sorrows and lived in constant fear for the safety of their husband. When he could not be at home with them, Grandmother Ann Eliza told her friends, “I’m glad there is someone else who can love him just as much as I do.” They shared and shared alike in times of sickness and health. They went to church with their little children. They sang beautifully together. But now what could they do? This was a very sad time for the family.
From the book: The Life of Thomas Rowell Leavitt. page 33