Amanda Dignowity was the wife of San Antonio pioneer doctor and vocal abolitionist, Anthony M. Dignowity. She met her future husband in Little Rock where she also was studying medicine. In her own right, she became a notable and respected figure in San Antonio society. A short biography of her and Dr. Dignowity may be found in the 1907 publication, A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas.
Married February 9, 1843 in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
----
Amanda J. McCann was a daughter of Francis M. McCann, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and Sarah (Cramer) McCann, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Speaking of her early years, Mrs. Dignowity at one time said: "In my childhood and girlhood I traveled much with my father, who was a merchant as well as a planter, and as there were then no railroads, all travel being by carriages and wagons, I traversed in this way much of the wilds of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas, and saw and practiced many of the primitive ways of, living. Being the eldest of a large family of girls, and there being many servants to care for, at home or on our various removals, I had to take charge of our medicine chest, one of the necessary adjuncts of every large household in those days, and administer such physic as was prescribed. I took a fancy for the study of medicine and although women were not then allowed to practice I determined to learn something about the subject. I began to read under Dr. J. Coombes of Mississippi, and after my father removed to Little Rock I continued my studies under Dr. Tucker and Dr. Prather. Meeting Dr. William Byrd Powell, then president of the Medical College of New Orleans and afterwards State Geologist of Arkansas, I studied under him, he teaching the reform system, the eclectic, then almost in its infancy. On February 9, 1843, I was married to Dr. A. M. Dignowity, friend and partner of Dr. Powell, and, accompanying my husband to a small place in the western part of Kansas, settled there. Whatever ambition I may have had for an independent career as a medical practitioner was now laid aside, although I continued my studies and often in after years joined my husband in his researches and lent him what aid I could in his professional labors."
Dr. Dignowity having come to Texas in the spring of 1846, as before stated, sent for his wife in the fall of that year. The account of her trip is best given in her own language. She said: "After mass, offered by Archbishop Byrens, and the prayers of the congregation for my safety in that land of war and desperadoes, were said, I left my relatives and friends, some of whom I was never to see again and others not for many years, and took the steamer bound for New Orleans. At that place I waited thirty days for a vessel sailing for Texas, took passage on the bark 'William' in the latter part of January and, after beating about and being driven much out of the way at sea, suffering two days for water, we finally put in at Matagorda, where a supply of food and water was obtained. The vessel then proceeded to Indianola. There I was fortunate in meeting Mr. Van Ransalaer, of New York, and Judge Stuart, of Texas, both friends of my husband. We chartered a lighter and the two gentlemen, myself and babies and the captain left for Port Lavaca, which I was told was distant only a few hours' sail, but we had gone scarcely a mile when a norther sprang up and we were driven out and battled the storm until the next evening before we reached our destination. The next morning one of the gentlemen asked me to step out and see the fine United States Mail coach waiting to take us over. Imagine my astonishment to see a large wagon without cover or seats, six Mexican broncho mules attached, each mule held by a Mexican peon, the latter as strange-looking to me as the mules, until we got in. I procured a rocking-chair and roll of carpeting from my baggage and ensconced myself in the back of the wagon with my babies. The word to start was given, the Mexicans springing out of the way and the mules, standing first on their hind feet and then plunging forward in response to a yell from the driver and the Mexicans, we started on our way. We faced the north wind for miles, I, nearly frightened to death, could only hold myself in readiness for anything that might come. At last we arrived at Victoria. ' Limpy' Brown, well known in Texas history, kept the hotel there. After dinner we had a relay of bronchos and started on, facing toward evening a sleeting norther. We arrived late at Seguin, half frozen, hungry and tired out, my baby not a year old, with the croup, all our faces blistered with the sleet and cold. There I met for the first time Capt. Jack Hays, on his way to Washington, D. C., and others who were going to San Antonio, among them Mr. William Vance, Capt. Shaw and Mr. A. A. Munsey, all of whom I knew well at home. Our hostess was Mrs. Calvert and with her still resided her beautiful daughters, afterward Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hays and Mrs. John Towig. Next morning, with a relay of bronchos, we continued our journey, our party being increased by the addition of Mr. Munsey and Capt. Shaw.
"The opening of the Civil War brought us a new era of trial and suffering. My husband was a Union man. He left the country on account of his views on slavery and secession and remained in the North until the restoration of peace. My two eldest sons, aged sixteen and nineteen, were conscripted into the Confederate army but, subsequently, while on a furlough, swam the Rio Grande, made their escape, and joined the Union forces at Brazos de Santiago, and later went to Washington City, where they secured positions in the Department of the Interior and remained until 1868. Most of our property was swept away during the four years of struggle, some of our losses being caused by Indians, who made frequent incursions into the country and stole cattle, horses and sheep from the ranches, sometimes murdering the ranchmen. But in spite of these unpleasant recollections, San Antonio is very dear to me and I am every inch a Texan. During the past twenty years I have traveled extensively throughout the Union but I cannot say that I have ever found any place that I like better than this and I have no higher wish than to here pass in the quiet of my home, surrounded by my children and grandchildren, the remainder of the years allowed to me on earth." Mrs. Dignowity was a remarkable woman in many ways. A devoted wife and mother, burdened with the cares of a large estate during her latter years, she still found time and inclination to devote to the small arts, and received from the judges of the International State Fair and the State Art Association two gold medals for art work and carving; one diploma, one honorable mention and fifteen premiums from the different departments. [p. 2024, "A History of Texas and Texans", Volume 4, By Frank White Johnson; The American Historical Society, 1916
Married February 9, 1843 in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
----
Amanda J. McCann was a daughter of Francis M. McCann, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and Sarah (Cramer) McCann, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Speaking of her early years, Mrs. Dignowity at one time said: "In my childhood and girlhood I traveled much with my father, who was a merchant as well as a planter, and as there were then no railroads, all travel being by carriages and wagons, I traversed in this way much of the wilds of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas, and saw and practiced many of the primitive ways of, living. Being the eldest of a large family of girls, and there being many servants to care for, at home or on our various removals, I had to take charge of our medicine chest, one of the necessary adjuncts of every large household in those days, and administer such physic as was prescribed. I took a fancy for the study of medicine and although women were not then allowed to practice I determined to learn something about the subject. I began to read under Dr. J. Coombes of Mississippi, and after my father removed to Little Rock I continued my studies under Dr. Tucker and Dr. Prather. Meeting Dr. William Byrd Powell, then president of the Medical College of New Orleans and afterwards State Geologist of Arkansas, I studied under him, he teaching the reform system, the eclectic, then almost in its infancy. On February 9, 1843, I was married to Dr. A. M. Dignowity, friend and partner of Dr. Powell, and, accompanying my husband to a small place in the western part of Kansas, settled there. Whatever ambition I may have had for an independent career as a medical practitioner was now laid aside, although I continued my studies and often in after years joined my husband in his researches and lent him what aid I could in his professional labors."
Dr. Dignowity having come to Texas in the spring of 1846, as before stated, sent for his wife in the fall of that year. The account of her trip is best given in her own language. She said: "After mass, offered by Archbishop Byrens, and the prayers of the congregation for my safety in that land of war and desperadoes, were said, I left my relatives and friends, some of whom I was never to see again and others not for many years, and took the steamer bound for New Orleans. At that place I waited thirty days for a vessel sailing for Texas, took passage on the bark 'William' in the latter part of January and, after beating about and being driven much out of the way at sea, suffering two days for water, we finally put in at Matagorda, where a supply of food and water was obtained. The vessel then proceeded to Indianola. There I was fortunate in meeting Mr. Van Ransalaer, of New York, and Judge Stuart, of Texas, both friends of my husband. We chartered a lighter and the two gentlemen, myself and babies and the captain left for Port Lavaca, which I was told was distant only a few hours' sail, but we had gone scarcely a mile when a norther sprang up and we were driven out and battled the storm until the next evening before we reached our destination. The next morning one of the gentlemen asked me to step out and see the fine United States Mail coach waiting to take us over. Imagine my astonishment to see a large wagon without cover or seats, six Mexican broncho mules attached, each mule held by a Mexican peon, the latter as strange-looking to me as the mules, until we got in. I procured a rocking-chair and roll of carpeting from my baggage and ensconced myself in the back of the wagon with my babies. The word to start was given, the Mexicans springing out of the way and the mules, standing first on their hind feet and then plunging forward in response to a yell from the driver and the Mexicans, we started on our way. We faced the north wind for miles, I, nearly frightened to death, could only hold myself in readiness for anything that might come. At last we arrived at Victoria. ' Limpy' Brown, well known in Texas history, kept the hotel there. After dinner we had a relay of bronchos and started on, facing toward evening a sleeting norther. We arrived late at Seguin, half frozen, hungry and tired out, my baby not a year old, with the croup, all our faces blistered with the sleet and cold. There I met for the first time Capt. Jack Hays, on his way to Washington, D. C., and others who were going to San Antonio, among them Mr. William Vance, Capt. Shaw and Mr. A. A. Munsey, all of whom I knew well at home. Our hostess was Mrs. Calvert and with her still resided her beautiful daughters, afterward Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hays and Mrs. John Towig. Next morning, with a relay of bronchos, we continued our journey, our party being increased by the addition of Mr. Munsey and Capt. Shaw.
"The opening of the Civil War brought us a new era of trial and suffering. My husband was a Union man. He left the country on account of his views on slavery and secession and remained in the North until the restoration of peace. My two eldest sons, aged sixteen and nineteen, were conscripted into the Confederate army but, subsequently, while on a furlough, swam the Rio Grande, made their escape, and joined the Union forces at Brazos de Santiago, and later went to Washington City, where they secured positions in the Department of the Interior and remained until 1868. Most of our property was swept away during the four years of struggle, some of our losses being caused by Indians, who made frequent incursions into the country and stole cattle, horses and sheep from the ranches, sometimes murdering the ranchmen. But in spite of these unpleasant recollections, San Antonio is very dear to me and I am every inch a Texan. During the past twenty years I have traveled extensively throughout the Union but I cannot say that I have ever found any place that I like better than this and I have no higher wish than to here pass in the quiet of my home, surrounded by my children and grandchildren, the remainder of the years allowed to me on earth." Mrs. Dignowity was a remarkable woman in many ways. A devoted wife and mother, burdened with the cares of a large estate during her latter years, she still found time and inclination to devote to the small arts, and received from the judges of the International State Fair and the State Art Association two gold medals for art work and carving; one diploma, one honorable mention and fifteen premiums from the different departments. [p. 2024, "A History of Texas and Texans", Volume 4, By Frank White Johnson; The American Historical Society, 1916
Amanda Dignowity was the wife of San Antonio pioneer doctor and vocal abolitionist, Anthony M. Dignowity. She met her future husband in Little Rock where she also was studying medicine. In her own right, she became a notable and respected figure in San Antonio society. A short biography of her and Dr. Dignowity may be found in the 1907 publication, A Twentieth Century History of Southwest Texas.
Married February 9, 1843 in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
----
Amanda J. McCann was a daughter of Francis M. McCann, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and Sarah (Cramer) McCann, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Speaking of her early years, Mrs. Dignowity at one time said: "In my childhood and girlhood I traveled much with my father, who was a merchant as well as a planter, and as there were then no railroads, all travel being by carriages and wagons, I traversed in this way much of the wilds of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas, and saw and practiced many of the primitive ways of, living. Being the eldest of a large family of girls, and there being many servants to care for, at home or on our various removals, I had to take charge of our medicine chest, one of the necessary adjuncts of every large household in those days, and administer such physic as was prescribed. I took a fancy for the study of medicine and although women were not then allowed to practice I determined to learn something about the subject. I began to read under Dr. J. Coombes of Mississippi, and after my father removed to Little Rock I continued my studies under Dr. Tucker and Dr. Prather. Meeting Dr. William Byrd Powell, then president of the Medical College of New Orleans and afterwards State Geologist of Arkansas, I studied under him, he teaching the reform system, the eclectic, then almost in its infancy. On February 9, 1843, I was married to Dr. A. M. Dignowity, friend and partner of Dr. Powell, and, accompanying my husband to a small place in the western part of Kansas, settled there. Whatever ambition I may have had for an independent career as a medical practitioner was now laid aside, although I continued my studies and often in after years joined my husband in his researches and lent him what aid I could in his professional labors."
Dr. Dignowity having come to Texas in the spring of 1846, as before stated, sent for his wife in the fall of that year. The account of her trip is best given in her own language. She said: "After mass, offered by Archbishop Byrens, and the prayers of the congregation for my safety in that land of war and desperadoes, were said, I left my relatives and friends, some of whom I was never to see again and others not for many years, and took the steamer bound for New Orleans. At that place I waited thirty days for a vessel sailing for Texas, took passage on the bark 'William' in the latter part of January and, after beating about and being driven much out of the way at sea, suffering two days for water, we finally put in at Matagorda, where a supply of food and water was obtained. The vessel then proceeded to Indianola. There I was fortunate in meeting Mr. Van Ransalaer, of New York, and Judge Stuart, of Texas, both friends of my husband. We chartered a lighter and the two gentlemen, myself and babies and the captain left for Port Lavaca, which I was told was distant only a few hours' sail, but we had gone scarcely a mile when a norther sprang up and we were driven out and battled the storm until the next evening before we reached our destination. The next morning one of the gentlemen asked me to step out and see the fine United States Mail coach waiting to take us over. Imagine my astonishment to see a large wagon without cover or seats, six Mexican broncho mules attached, each mule held by a Mexican peon, the latter as strange-looking to me as the mules, until we got in. I procured a rocking-chair and roll of carpeting from my baggage and ensconced myself in the back of the wagon with my babies. The word to start was given, the Mexicans springing out of the way and the mules, standing first on their hind feet and then plunging forward in response to a yell from the driver and the Mexicans, we started on our way. We faced the north wind for miles, I, nearly frightened to death, could only hold myself in readiness for anything that might come. At last we arrived at Victoria. ' Limpy' Brown, well known in Texas history, kept the hotel there. After dinner we had a relay of bronchos and started on, facing toward evening a sleeting norther. We arrived late at Seguin, half frozen, hungry and tired out, my baby not a year old, with the croup, all our faces blistered with the sleet and cold. There I met for the first time Capt. Jack Hays, on his way to Washington, D. C., and others who were going to San Antonio, among them Mr. William Vance, Capt. Shaw and Mr. A. A. Munsey, all of whom I knew well at home. Our hostess was Mrs. Calvert and with her still resided her beautiful daughters, afterward Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hays and Mrs. John Towig. Next morning, with a relay of bronchos, we continued our journey, our party being increased by the addition of Mr. Munsey and Capt. Shaw.
"The opening of the Civil War brought us a new era of trial and suffering. My husband was a Union man. He left the country on account of his views on slavery and secession and remained in the North until the restoration of peace. My two eldest sons, aged sixteen and nineteen, were conscripted into the Confederate army but, subsequently, while on a furlough, swam the Rio Grande, made their escape, and joined the Union forces at Brazos de Santiago, and later went to Washington City, where they secured positions in the Department of the Interior and remained until 1868. Most of our property was swept away during the four years of struggle, some of our losses being caused by Indians, who made frequent incursions into the country and stole cattle, horses and sheep from the ranches, sometimes murdering the ranchmen. But in spite of these unpleasant recollections, San Antonio is very dear to me and I am every inch a Texan. During the past twenty years I have traveled extensively throughout the Union but I cannot say that I have ever found any place that I like better than this and I have no higher wish than to here pass in the quiet of my home, surrounded by my children and grandchildren, the remainder of the years allowed to me on earth." Mrs. Dignowity was a remarkable woman in many ways. A devoted wife and mother, burdened with the cares of a large estate during her latter years, she still found time and inclination to devote to the small arts, and received from the judges of the International State Fair and the State Art Association two gold medals for art work and carving; one diploma, one honorable mention and fifteen premiums from the different departments. [p. 2024, "A History of Texas and Texans", Volume 4, By Frank White Johnson; The American Historical Society, 1916
Married February 9, 1843 in Pulaski County, Arkansas.
----
Amanda J. McCann was a daughter of Francis M. McCann, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, and Sarah (Cramer) McCann, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Speaking of her early years, Mrs. Dignowity at one time said: "In my childhood and girlhood I traveled much with my father, who was a merchant as well as a planter, and as there were then no railroads, all travel being by carriages and wagons, I traversed in this way much of the wilds of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi and Arkansas, and saw and practiced many of the primitive ways of, living. Being the eldest of a large family of girls, and there being many servants to care for, at home or on our various removals, I had to take charge of our medicine chest, one of the necessary adjuncts of every large household in those days, and administer such physic as was prescribed. I took a fancy for the study of medicine and although women were not then allowed to practice I determined to learn something about the subject. I began to read under Dr. J. Coombes of Mississippi, and after my father removed to Little Rock I continued my studies under Dr. Tucker and Dr. Prather. Meeting Dr. William Byrd Powell, then president of the Medical College of New Orleans and afterwards State Geologist of Arkansas, I studied under him, he teaching the reform system, the eclectic, then almost in its infancy. On February 9, 1843, I was married to Dr. A. M. Dignowity, friend and partner of Dr. Powell, and, accompanying my husband to a small place in the western part of Kansas, settled there. Whatever ambition I may have had for an independent career as a medical practitioner was now laid aside, although I continued my studies and often in after years joined my husband in his researches and lent him what aid I could in his professional labors."
Dr. Dignowity having come to Texas in the spring of 1846, as before stated, sent for his wife in the fall of that year. The account of her trip is best given in her own language. She said: "After mass, offered by Archbishop Byrens, and the prayers of the congregation for my safety in that land of war and desperadoes, were said, I left my relatives and friends, some of whom I was never to see again and others not for many years, and took the steamer bound for New Orleans. At that place I waited thirty days for a vessel sailing for Texas, took passage on the bark 'William' in the latter part of January and, after beating about and being driven much out of the way at sea, suffering two days for water, we finally put in at Matagorda, where a supply of food and water was obtained. The vessel then proceeded to Indianola. There I was fortunate in meeting Mr. Van Ransalaer, of New York, and Judge Stuart, of Texas, both friends of my husband. We chartered a lighter and the two gentlemen, myself and babies and the captain left for Port Lavaca, which I was told was distant only a few hours' sail, but we had gone scarcely a mile when a norther sprang up and we were driven out and battled the storm until the next evening before we reached our destination. The next morning one of the gentlemen asked me to step out and see the fine United States Mail coach waiting to take us over. Imagine my astonishment to see a large wagon without cover or seats, six Mexican broncho mules attached, each mule held by a Mexican peon, the latter as strange-looking to me as the mules, until we got in. I procured a rocking-chair and roll of carpeting from my baggage and ensconced myself in the back of the wagon with my babies. The word to start was given, the Mexicans springing out of the way and the mules, standing first on their hind feet and then plunging forward in response to a yell from the driver and the Mexicans, we started on our way. We faced the north wind for miles, I, nearly frightened to death, could only hold myself in readiness for anything that might come. At last we arrived at Victoria. ' Limpy' Brown, well known in Texas history, kept the hotel there. After dinner we had a relay of bronchos and started on, facing toward evening a sleeting norther. We arrived late at Seguin, half frozen, hungry and tired out, my baby not a year old, with the croup, all our faces blistered with the sleet and cold. There I met for the first time Capt. Jack Hays, on his way to Washington, D. C., and others who were going to San Antonio, among them Mr. William Vance, Capt. Shaw and Mr. A. A. Munsey, all of whom I knew well at home. Our hostess was Mrs. Calvert and with her still resided her beautiful daughters, afterward Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hays and Mrs. John Towig. Next morning, with a relay of bronchos, we continued our journey, our party being increased by the addition of Mr. Munsey and Capt. Shaw.
"The opening of the Civil War brought us a new era of trial and suffering. My husband was a Union man. He left the country on account of his views on slavery and secession and remained in the North until the restoration of peace. My two eldest sons, aged sixteen and nineteen, were conscripted into the Confederate army but, subsequently, while on a furlough, swam the Rio Grande, made their escape, and joined the Union forces at Brazos de Santiago, and later went to Washington City, where they secured positions in the Department of the Interior and remained until 1868. Most of our property was swept away during the four years of struggle, some of our losses being caused by Indians, who made frequent incursions into the country and stole cattle, horses and sheep from the ranches, sometimes murdering the ranchmen. But in spite of these unpleasant recollections, San Antonio is very dear to me and I am every inch a Texan. During the past twenty years I have traveled extensively throughout the Union but I cannot say that I have ever found any place that I like better than this and I have no higher wish than to here pass in the quiet of my home, surrounded by my children and grandchildren, the remainder of the years allowed to me on earth." Mrs. Dignowity was a remarkable woman in many ways. A devoted wife and mother, burdened with the cares of a large estate during her latter years, she still found time and inclination to devote to the small arts, and received from the judges of the International State Fair and the State Art Association two gold medals for art work and carving; one diploma, one honorable mention and fifteen premiums from the different departments. [p. 2024, "A History of Texas and Texans", Volume 4, By Frank White Johnson; The American Historical Society, 1916
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
