William S. Pitts

Dr. William S Pitts American physician and composer who wrote The Church in the Wildwood

William S. Pitts (1830–1918) was an American physician and composer, best known for writing the hymn "The Little Brown Church in the Vale".

Early Life

William Savage Pitts was born on August 18, 1830, in Lapeer, New York. He was the son of a farmer and grew up in a rural setting. Pitts showed an early interest in music and began composing at a young age.

Education

Pitts attended local schools in New York before moving to Rock County, Wisconsin, where he continued his education. He later studied medicine and became a practicing physician.

Career

Pitts balanced his career between medicine and music. He practiced as a physician in several locations, including Bradford, Iowa, where he composed his most famous hymn.

The Little Brown Church in the Vale

In 1857, while traveling through Nashua, Iowa, Pitts was inspired by the picturesque setting of a wooded valley. He envisioned a church in the clearing and wrote the hymn "The Little Brown Church in the Vale". The song gained popularity and became a beloved hymn in American religious music.

Personal Life

Pitts married Ann Eliza Warren in 1854, and the couple had several children. They lived in various locations due to Pitts' medical practice, including Fredericksburg, Iowa and Parkersburg, Iowa.

Legacy

William S. Pitts is remembered primarily for his contribution to American hymnody. "The Little Brown Church in the Vale" remains a popular hymn and is often associated with weddings and other religious ceremonies.

Death

Pitts passed away on September 25, 1918, in Brooklyn, New York. He was buried in Fredericksburg, Iowa.

See Also

• Hymn
• American hymnody
• Nashua, Iowa
• Bradford, Iowa

External Links

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