Jessie McAngus, wife of William McAngus, was born in Ross-Shire, Scotland, in 1849, came to Texas in 1867 and was married to Brother McAngus the same year. She died January 12, 1906.

Sister McAngus was baptized into Christ by W.H.D. Carrington, of Austin, in 1872, and lived a consecrated life until her death. She was a member of the congregation of disciples worshipping at the Moore's School House in Travis County, Texas, and was a regular attendant at the Lord's day meetings as long as her health would permit. Nothing seemed to give her greater pleasure than to minister to those who preached the gospel, and many of the preachers of Texas have enjoyed her kind hospitality.

She was the mother of eleven children, seven boys and four girls, who are all living and all grown. Their kindness to her during her sickness indicated the kind of a mother she had been to them and showed how they loved and appreciated her. She also leaves a husband and one sister, with a host of friends to mourn her loss.

Yet we weep not as those who have no hope, for we are confident that our loss is her good gain. May the richest blessings of our Father in heaven rest upon the bereaved ones is the prayer of a sympathizing friend and brother in Christ.

(Obituary that appeared in Firm Foundation (a church newspaper) in 1906, written by S.H. Cowan)


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Our Mother was born in Ross Shire, Scotland, about the year 1850. Her parents were poor, but born with much pride and ambition. They did the best they could for their children. Mother was more fortunate than many of the children of her day in Scotland, as she had the opportunity of learning the English language in her childhood, while she was still quite young. Her mother died, thus adding another hardship to the family. The children had to get out and work for a livelihood.

One day there came some pamphlets to Scotland with some contracts enclosed. These pamphlets told of the many opportunities to be had in the State of Texas in America. A number of these young people decided to try their luck and signed some of the contracts.

Among those who decided to make this voyage was an older sister of our mother, who was married and had two children. Our mother and a younger sister (their mother having passed away) decided to come along with this older sister and her family. So in October of 1866 they left Liverpool, England on this great adventure.

I remember of having heard our mother tell of the terrible storm which they encountered on their voyage to America, how the top mast of the ship was blown off, and the water was flooding the interior of the ship, either from a leak or from the massive waves. I don't recall exactly, but I do remember how she told of the wicked sailors who had no fear of God in them, cursed and fussed at them because they were so terrified of the storm. After the storm was over, they proceeded on their journey. After eleven weeks of sailing, they finally landed in Galveston, Texas in January of 1867.

Our father was also a passenger on this ship. He and mother were sweethearts back in Scotland, in fact, they were engaged to be married. I have heard my father tell how difficult it was for him to make up his mind to make the voyage. He was helping to support his widowed mother and the trip would mean he would have to leave her behind, but when he knew for certain that his sweetheart was leaving. He made up his mind quickly.

On April 18, 1867, they were married, in or near, Austin, Texas, by Jacob Fontaine, a gospel minister. They had many hardship, but being young and ambitious, and with spirit, they kept on" keeping on."

To this union were born eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. Back to the characteristics of our mother, she was a kind and devoted wife, a mother who loved her children to the extent that the night was never too dark nor the weather too cold for her to see to their comfort, as long as she was physically able. She was, as most of our pioneer women, very courageous, brave as a lion yet gentle as a lamb. This was her manner of life. She was very religious and believed firmly in doing to others as she would have them do to her.

She passed away on January 12, 1906, after a long and painful disease from cancer. The minister, brother S. H. Cowen, who spoke words of comfort to the bereaved family, made these remarks concerning her godly life. " Sister McAngus preached more gospel sermons by the life she lived than many gospel preachers ever preached." Her children praised and blessed her precious memory.

Written by: Annie Belle McAngus Bradshaw, youngest daughter and tenth of the eleven children, and sole survivor of the eleven on this date, May 21, 1961.