Kinney County, Texas Biographies

Anthony Francis Dignowity. No history of Texas would be complete were not extended mention given to the Dignowity family, whose members have been prominent in the interesting events which have marked the growth and development of the great commonwealth during the last seventy years. Few men are better known than A. Frank Dignowity, now a resident of San Antonio, whose large financial interests embrace various activities of the state's life. He was born at Illinois Falls, near Fayetteville, Washington county, Arkansas, in 1844, and is a son of Dr. Anthony Michael and Amanda J. (McCann) Dignowity, the history of whose interesting lives has been taken from a work published some twenty years ago. Anthony Michael Dignowity was born in Kuttenberg, Bohemia, January 16, 1810, and came of a family possessing some means and enjoying some distinction for intellectual endowments. His educational advantages were good and he availed himself of every opportunity, taking a thorough collegiate course in the Jesuit College of his native place. He came to the United States at the age of twenty-two years, sailing, as his passport recites, from Hamburg, February 17, 1832. For some time after his arrival in the country he resided at different places in the South, and acquired considerable property at Natchez (where he lived longer than elsewhere before coming to Texas). In 1835, while residing in Mississippi, he made a trip to Texas, extending as far as San Antonio, but soon returned, read medicine at Natchez, under Drs. Stone and Car- rothers, and attended lectures in Cincinnati, Ohio. He adopted the electric system of medicine, then in its infancy and began its practice in Mississippi. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Dignowity gathered up the fragments of his hotel furniture and fixtures, which had been scattered by a great tornado, and, chartering the little steamer "Lady Morgan," moved to Talequah, Indian Territory, the then recently established seat of government of the Cherokee Nation. Here he practiced his profession for something over a year, and during this time frequently visited Little Rock, Arkansas, where he met Miss Amanda J. McCann, whom he married February 9, 1843. After his marriage. Dr. Dignowity moved to the little town of Illinois Falls, near the Indian country in Arkansas, and there continued his practice until the early spring of 1846, when he volunteered under Governor Yell of Arkansas for service under the United States flag in the war with Mexico. With ten others, Dr. Dignowity made his way across the country to San Antonio, it being their intention to join the Texas Rangers or some body of volunteers and proceed from that place to the armies of Gens. Scott or Taylor beyond the Rio Grande. Within a few hours, however, after Dr. Dignowity arrived at San Antonio, while at the table taking his first meal at the place, he was hastily summoned to attend a Mexican and an Indian who had been engaged in a street affray, and his presence as a physician becoming thus known and there being urgent need for his services he was prevailed upon to remain and devote his skill and energies, for a time, at least, to the afflicted of that place. He soon had a good practice and finally made up his mind to make San Antonio his home. He accordingly sent for and was joined by his family, which he had left at Little Rock, and from that time on until the opening of the war between the North and the South, devoted his time to the practice of medicine and to land speculation, both of which yielded him good financial returns. On the great issue which led to a rupture between the States, Dr. Dignowity was opposed to secession, and when his state voted to secede he in 1861 went to the North, making his way through Texas, the Indian Territory and Arkansas, on horseback, and finally reaching Washington City, where he secured employment under the government and remained during the entire period of the war. Dr. Dignowity was a great sufferer by this struggle, losing the greater part of his property and the most of his health. On his return to Texas he did not resume his medical practice, but devoted himself to gathering up the fragments of his fortune. He followed this vigorously and with a fair degree of success until his death, April 22, 1875. He was the father of the following children: Anthony Francis, of this review; Albert Wentzel, who was killed February 25, 1872, at Piedras Negras, Mexico, while a soldier in the army of the patriot Juarez; Edward Lucien; Henry Louis; Charles Leonard; James Victor; Mary K., who died from the bite of a rattlesnake; and Imogene Teresa. Dr. Dignowity'a career was an exceptional one, made so by an exceptional mental and moral organism. He was not only an accomplished physician, but a successful man of business. While a student and close investigator, the cast of his mind was practical. He endeavored during all his years to live along the lines of fairness and moral rectitude, seeking to do what was right because it was right and not from motives of policy or gain. He was greatly devoted to his family and was an ardent lover of his adopted country. He became a Republican on the organization of the party, and was ever afterward an ardent advocate of its principles. Dr. Dignowity was reared a Catholic and during his earlier years was an active communicant of the church, but his views on theological questions gradually underwent a change and he closed his life with strong leanings toward Spiritualism. 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. Mr. McCann came to America at the age of nine years with an uncle and settled in the city of Baltimore, where he grew to maturity. When about twenty-one years of age he enlisted in the United States army "under Capt. Hale Hamilton, fought through the war of 1812, taking part in the battle of New Orleans under Gen. Jackson, and was mustered out of the service at the close of hostilities, as lieutenant of his company. In August, 1817, he was married to Miss Cramer, of Pennsylvania, a niece of Congressman Cramer, of that state, and moved to the mountains of Western Virginia. There some three years later, July 28, 1820, Amanda J. McCann was born. From Virginia, Mr. McCann moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, and after some losses and many changes he started with his family for Louisville, Kentucky. By accident, he was compelled to stop at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained for several years. From that city Amanda J. was sent to the convent school at Loretto, where she remained for four years, obtaining there the greater part of her education. Falling in with the tide of immigration to the South and West, Mr. McCann drifted to Mississippi, and finally, in 1840, settled in Little Rock, Arkansas, where his family was domiciled and his servants quartered on a headright some miles outside of the town, which he had received for his services during the War of 1812. Two years later the family also settled on the headright, which now became the homestead, the affairs of which were ordered and conducted after the manner customary on the old-time southern plantations. 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 froren, 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. Anthony Francis Dignowity, as was his father, is of quiet and reserved manner, but has led an interesting and eventful life covering tense periods of history in Southwestern Texas and Mexico. He grew up and was educated in San Antonio, but in 1861 went to Monterey, Mexico, where he established himself in the hotel business, and a little later became acting collector of customs for the United States Government at Brazos de Santiago, near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Before the war closed, he had done some military service with the Union troops in the lower border country, and was at the battle of White's (or Palmetto) Ranch, near Brownsville, famed as the last battle of the Civil War, fought, in fact, after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. After the close of the struggle between the states he resumed business activities in Mexico, and later, coming to Texas, became the agent in charge of. Sam Smith's extensive interests at Brackett in Kinney county, on the frontier of Southwest Texas. In connection with these duties he laid off the town of Brackett, and started that now flourishing and wealthy little city in 1875. He was also'the founder of the town of Del Rio, county seat of Kinney county. For several years he lived in Del Rio and there officiated capably as deputy sheriff and acting sheriff of Valverde county. When Porto Rico was taken during the Spanish-American War, Mr. Dignowity was appointed by President McKinley to the responsible position of special agent of the United States, in charge of both military and civil affairs on the island, being charged by the President to act upon his own judgment in all matters. He served with Gen. Brooke and Gen. George V. Henry. His fluency in the Spanish language, and his many years of experience in dealing with Spanish-speaking people, made him particularly qualified for this office, which he held for nine months, discharging his responsibilities in a masterly and diplomatic manner. He located permanently in San Antonio in 1909, and this has since been his home. Mr. Dignowity has important property interests in charge, notably in the JJulluig Mineral Wells, situated about six miles southeast of the business center of San Antonio, the former home place of the late George Dullnig. Besides the mineral waters, famed for their great curative properties, there are natural gas and oil wells on the Dullnig land which supply gas for both heating and cooking on the place. Mr. Dignowity was marired in San Antonio to Miss Mary Katharine Dullnig, daughter of George and Frances (Werner) Dullnig, the latter of whom is still living. Both parents were born in Germany and came to San Antonio, Texas, in early life, as members of pioneer families. George Dullnig, who died in San Antonio in 1908, was for many years one of the city's most prominent merchants, and at the time of his death left a large estate to his wife. ChaRles T. Haltom. County attorney of Pecos county, since 1908, Mr. Haltom is one of the able young members of the Texas bar. In the law lie has exceptional ability, has shown it in all the business which has been entrusted to his care, and along with this ability he also maintains some of the best ideals of the legal profession. His honor and personal integrity have never been impeached during his professional career, and his public spirit and friendly helpfulness are among the other factors which make him one of the most popular citizens of Fort Stockton. Mr. Haltom was born in Brackettville, Texas, January 7, 1883, and has spent all his life in the state. He attended the public schools of San Antonio, and graduated from the high school of that city and later attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he was graduated in the law department in 1906. At the intervals of schooling he worked to acquire means to further his education and he really paid his way through university. Graduating in the law, he spent several months in mining in Arizona, after which he returned to San Antonio, and set himself up in the practice of law. A year later he moved out to Fort Stockton, and has since had his practice in this county. In June, 1908, he was appointed county attorney, and in November, 1908, was elected to his first term, now serving out the third elective term of office. Mr. Haltom was married in Fort Stockton, January 18. 1911, to Miss Minnie Thornbury, daughter of J. W. Thornbury of Pecos county. He and his wife are members of the Christian church, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, also with the Loyal American. He is now Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge, and patron of the Eastern Star, has held office in the Knights of Pythias, and is one of the managers of the Woodmen of the World. As a member of the Fort Stockton Commercial Club he exerts much influence to advance the business interests of the town. He is an independent Democrat, and is an influential factor in local affairs. While filling the office of prosecuting attorney he served as principal of Mexican School from 1909 to 1912, inclusive. For his diversions he is fond of hunting, fishing and the quieter amusements of home and society. Concerning his native state, he believes that Texas has some of the best laws to be found on the statute books of any state and has a splendid commercial future. He also believes that it is in the beginning of a fast growing period in population, resources and wealth, and especially does he believe this true of West Texas.