Calhoun County
ILGenWeb

1891 Biography - William Love

WILLIAM LOVE. There is in every human life something of interest that distinguishes it from the lives of others, and especially does mankind find pleasure in learning the incidents connected with those who have achieved success in the different lines to which they have devoted their attention. Mr. Love may properly be termed a self-made man, having worked his way to success by means of industry and natural ability. He is a good citizen and highly respected throughout the length and breadth of Point Precinct, Calhoun County, where he makes his home.

Mr. Love was born December 21, 1824, in that portion of Brooke County, now known as Hancock County, W. Va., and there passed his childhood and youth. His educational advantages were limited to the pioneer schools of that day, and in 1848 he accompanied his parents in their removal to Calhoun County, Ill. The country was then a wilderness, sparsely inhabited and giving little indication of its present prosperity. Our subject entered heartily into the work of developing the land and in 1851, by economy and wise management was enabled to make his first purchase of land, buying one hundred and sixty acres now included in his present estate. It was then covered with heavy timber, while deer and wild turkeys abounded on every side.

In order to build a house, Mr. Love split logs and soon had a small log cabin prepared for the abode of his family. He also commenced to cultivate the land and soon had a pleasant homestead. The original house has been replaced by a commodious residence, while substantial outbuildings indicate the thrifty enterprise of the husbandman. The estate has been gradually enlarged until it now includes two hundred and twenty acres of fine land, and not the least among its attractions is an orchard of twenty-eight hundred trees. Mr. Love was first married in 1850 to Miss Mary Smith, who, was born and reared in Calhoun County. Their marriage was blessed by the birth of the following children: Susan L. and Laura J., of whom only Susan L., now survives. After the death of his wife Mr. Love was again married in 1861 to Mrs. Palmyra Walker, and of their union four children were born of whom three survive.

Mr. Love was again united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Mrs. A. M. Green, whom he divorced on scriptural grounds. After which he married his present wife, who bore the maiden name of Amanda E. Carroll, and who is a most estimable woman, highly respected among all her acquaintances. Both Mr. Love and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically Mr. Love is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and uniformly votes that ticket. He is an intelligent citizen and a genial conversationalist, who wins friends easily and retains them through fortune and adversity. He has climbed slowly but surely the ladder of success and being entirely dependent upon himself for the success he has achieved merits great praise.

The father of our subject was Joseph Love, a native of Alleghany County, Pa., while his grandfather, John Love, was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, being one of three brothers who came to America, the others being Thomas and George Grandfather John Love settled in Alleghany County, Pa. There he married and passed the remainder of his life, engaged as a weaver. Joseph Love remained in his native county during his childhood and youth, learning the trade of a shoe maker and employing his time in this occupation. While still a young man he removed to Virginia working first at his trade and afterward on a farm.

From Virginia Joseph Love removed to Iowa making the trip by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and locating six miles north of Davenport where he rented land and resided ten years. He then removed to the northwestern part of Iowa and became one of the pioneers of Adair County. He bought a tract of wild land, cleared up the ground and succeeded in making a valuable farm out of the original wilderness. After a residence there of a few years he sold his property and moved to Calhoun County, Ill., where he died in 1869. His wife bore the maiden name of Susan Andress and was a native of Brooke County, Va., and the daughter of William Andress. She died in Calhoun County in 1870, leaving eight children. Nine had been born to herself and husband, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth.

Extracted 16 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 536-537


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