Angel Wings: One Child Can Forever Change the World

Nellie Tyler’s Tombstone in the Hoge/Howe Cemetery as noted in Sleeping in the Valley.

As dawn broke on August 28, 1884, Governor Tyler rejoiced in having another daughter. His prayers were answered after the scary experience of almost losing his other baby girl, Eliza, to illness. He thanked God for his renewed feeling of goodness and mercy and named this precious bundle Eleanor Howe Tyler after her great-grandmother.

Before this, he was dabbling in politics, but this period of his life consisted of Tyler occupying himself with his farming and business interests while enlarging and remodeling his house, Belle Hampton.  He was busy in the beautiful Southwestern Virginia countryside, raising eight children and enjoying life. Little did he know this tiny angel would forever impact his life and future generations.

 “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

On the fateful morning of April 18, 1885, little Nellie (Eleanor) took her last breath. She never made it to her second birthday. A grieved and depressed father uttered the words, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Begging God not to have him endure another sacrifice so great, he just repeated, “His will be done.”

His work on the farm and the beautiful Belle-Hampton no longer interested him. He began a new journey into politics and the now booming city of Radford, VA. He built his home, Halwyck, now the University of Radford President’s residence. He also oversaw the construction of Radford Central Church, later called Tyler Memorial Church. In his diary, Tyler wrote on January 5, 1985,

“God has filled our hearts with gladness and joy today. All our children, not yet church members, Heth, Belle, Sue, Hal, and little Lily joined, the church and were received by Mr. Mebane. John also joined; Eddie and Jimmie have been members for several years. May I live in true gratitude for this happy beginning of the New Year. The new church at this place, Radford, is sufficiently advanced for services to be held in it, and Melvin Chumbley preached the first sermon last night.”

Little Nellie

Little Nellie, youngest daughter of Major J. Hoge Tyler, of Pulaski County, Virginia on last Thursday.

This is the first dark shadow that has ever fallen across that pleasant home. May God’s grace be abundantly given his servants.

This sweet child used to say to her little sister, “Come and stay by me, Bud.” May father, mother, brothers and sisters all stand by her forever in the home of the blest.

“Perchance when the pearly gates unfold,

Her voice will be first to greet thine ear,

Welcome, sweet mother, home;

And clasping thee with her tiny hand,

Thine angel child ‘mid a shining band.

Will lead thee to the throne.”

-        Pastor Melvin Chumbley

Sweet Nellie lay buried in the family cemetery next to her great grandma, Eleanor Howe Hoge, but her dad’s grief inspired a change in his life, a new purpose, the butterfly effect. The theory of the butterfly effect is a concept in chaos theory that says small changes can have significant, unexpected effects in complex systems. Tyler, not yet governor, moved out of his beloved Belle Hampton home into Radford, assisting in building a church and becoming governor within a short period. In his case, his daughter’s angel wings created a wave of new beginnings.

But his daughter’s short life and sudden death brought decades of changes. Tyler’s Memorial Presbyterian Church was eventually sold to Radford University and used for religious studies, a fine tribute to its purpose. But in 2004, the President decided to tear down the historic structure. Although the windows and tower bell were saved, it was only because of their potential resale value, not historical significance. But the angel's wings swopped in again, and the Presbyterian Church of Radford saved what little remained of the historic memorial church.

Boxed up and stored in barns, then eventually the church itself, these beautiful stained-glass windows did not have a home. Much like little Nellie’s grave, they were hidden from the public’s eye. Lost to the future generations. The significance of these symbols was not to be uncovered for decades.

Belle Hampton Main House and Cottage

But serendipity was once again at work. Belle Hampton was recently revitalized. The place that brought the governor so much pain was uncovered from decades of disrepair. The Main House was completed in March 2020, with Governor Hoge Tyler’s picture prominently in the conference room. The following year, the stories of those buried in the Family Cemetery, Sleeping in the Valley, were published, noting Nellie’s grave and other prominent Virginians who put their mark on the area. And the wings of change continued.

After years of planning and the hard work of implementing the farm’s three-acre pond, Shuffle Back Pond was completed. The vision of the new owner, a seventh-generation descendant on the property, and Governor Tyler’s great cousin, Tom Hoge’s plan, came together in 2023. Just as the pond was filled and the next step of the long-delayed pavilion was beginning to be planned, a surprising email was received.

In an email with the subject "Roanoke Times Article," we learned that a church was planning to donate its stained-glass windows and bell to a deserving historic site. The email's author introduced us to the church as a possible recipient of these items. We were excited about the opportunity to acquire a piece of Tyler's family history, as we aim to gather historical objects from the Hoges and Tylers to preserve for future generations.

Stained Glass window from Tyler Memorial Presbyterian Church, donated to Belle Hampton Farm by Radford Presbyterian Church. Tom Hoge is pictured with the window.

As good fortune has it, we were given the historic windows and bell to be used on what will be called Eleanor’s (Nellie) View Pavilion. The generosity of the church and the gratefulness of us as the recipients is humbling. The events might be considered serendipity, butterfly effect or angels wings, but I think it is best described by Governor J. Hoge Tyler, “ His will be done.”

Bell from Tyler Memorial Presbyterian Church, donated to Belle Hampton Farm by Radford Presbyterian Church. Tom Hoge is pictured with the bell.

The story of little Nellie who changed the world not only with her short life, but with angel wings will be forever remembered. They say you die twice, once when you take your last breath, then again when your name is spoken for the last time. Nellie Tyler (1884-1886) will not be forgotten. She will shine through the stained-glass windows overlooking the pond where the eagles sore, giving us promise for future generations.