The Little Brown Church in the Vale

In 1855, William Tannahill brought his family to Nashua, Iowa.  His brother and his wife, Robert and Margaret Nelson Tannahill came also.  The years in Iowa were difficult years.  William had bought 40 acres of land close to New Bradford but a few months later his horses were stolen so he gave up farming and made his living as a cobbler.  He tanned his own leather and went from home to home making shoes for the entire family.  William did carpenter work and helped build the first Congregational Church of New Hampton, later known as the “The Little Brown Church in the Wildwood.”  They became Charter members of this little church and their names are engraved on a bronze plaque there today. 

If you visit the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa you can see this Bronze Memorial Tablet in the front of the chapel (In  the church photo's on their website it is partially hidden behind the Christmas tree). It shows the original membership, 1855-1888.  It was dedicated on October 11, 1925.  These are the names on the tablet:

1856 - Carolyn Billings, Mary Spurr, Leander Smith, Eliza N. Smith, Lemuel Bull, Capt. John Smith, Betsey Smith, Elmore Smith, Charlotte B. Smith, Mary Vinton, William Tannahill, Janet Tannahill, J. Edward Smith, Octavia K. Smith

1857 - Hiram Fountain, Hannah Fountain, Mary Thompson

1858 - Cheerill Parkhurst, E.N. Palmer, Corintha R. Palmer,Anna M. Biggar, Harriet W. Smith, Harriet Smith

1859 - Levi S. Thomas, Charlotte R. Thomas

1860 - Samuel F. Eastman, Hannah L. Eastman, William Stephens, Ann Stephens, Celeste E. Nutting, John Heald, Lydia E. Heald, Mary Foster, Elizabeth J. Strickland, Margaret E. Thompson, Ellen J. Thomas, Maria C. Smith, Dora Stephens, Ellen S. Taylor, Levi Haskell, Paulina Haskell, Mrs. Charles Greeley, William Biggar, Elizabeth Biggar, Harriet W. Dickinson

1861 - Newton J. Watson

1861- Daniel Heath, Calvin A. Bierce, Frances R. Bierce

1862 - Irving M. Fisher, Mary E. Smith, Celia J. Wells, Mary A. Chapman, Edward Thomas, Mary A. Barber, Carrie B. Smith, Mary J. Biggar, Celia I. Bird, Mary E. Weller

1864 - Ellen Hall

1865 - Mary E. Colony

1866 - Albert E. Quaife, William A. Eastman, Licerus A. Jewett, Mary E. Choate, Maria U.N. Knapp, William P. Bennett, Mrs. W. P. Bennett

1867 - Joseph S. Bennett, Mrs. Albert Quaife, Riley Brooks, William M. Brooks, Adelia F. Brooks,

Henry N. Potter, Leonard M. Tucker, Alletta L. Brooks

1868 - Rev. R. J. Williams, Mrs. A. P. Williams, Harriet Williams, Phoebe Wade, Mrs. W. Myers   

1869 - Fannie G. Graves

1870 - John F. Brant, L. B. Parker, Eliza A. Parker, Carrie W. Barrie, Mary R. Bliss

1871 - Erastus Palmer

1872 - Mrs. J. W. Hudson, Mary B. Morse, F.A. Davis, Alma Davis, Maria Brooks

1874 - Rev. J. W. Hudson, Ida Adams, Elvira Bird, Maria D. Smith, George Laird, Lydia A. Laird, Mary Jane Spencer, Mary L. Eastman, Margaret W. Tannahill, Rena D. Smith, Anna George Laird, Margaret Laird, Swift B. Smith, Minerva J. Smith

1875 - Agnes Dalziel, Orlando Billiangs, Sarah Billings, Ella R. Ranch, Louise C. Ranch

1880 - Warren R. Smith, Marion R. Heald, James M. Heald

1883 - Edward B. Smith, Helen D. Eastman, Alice I. Smith, Mary M. Johnson, Clara A. Dickenson

1887 - Edna M. Heald, Ada Hillman

1888 - Eva Smith, Lillie Mitchell, Cora Wolf

(Note:  I have never seen a list of these names transcribed.  I have tried to copy, as best I could from 2 pictures of these tablets.  There may be mistakes so do not take this as proof but it should give you an idea of who was there at that time.  MH.)