George B. Love

Mr. and Mrs. George B. Love and Family

    In every community there are a few men whom everyone admire and respect, not on account of their business ability and worldly success, but because of their personal characteristics. Such a man is George B. Love, of Marion, Indiana. Although he is one of the most successful farmers in the county, men do not speak of him as "one of our big farmers," but as "one of the finest men." He was born in this county and has spent his entire life in this section. His genial disposition and his public spiritedness, as well as his ability and practical common sense, have won him universal liking and respect, and since he is a young man the future looks very brilliant for him.

    George B. Love is a son of Irvin Love, who was born in Miami County, Ohio, August 28, 1840. He was the third son in a family of eleven children born to William and Mary (Dungan) Love. Both his father and mother were born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, his father in 1807 and his mother in 1809. Irvin Love was of Dutch and Irish descent. His parents moved to Grant County, Indiana, when he was but six months old, and there they settled on a farm in Washington Township. William Love died on this farm when Irvin was only seven years of age, and it then devolved upon the entire family to obtain their sustenance, meaning hard work for all. Owing to this Irvin was deprived of the advantages of an education, but being of an observant nature he largely overcame this disadvantage later in life through study and observation. At the age of twenty-two Irvin Love enlisted in Company C, Fifty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, this being in October, 1862. He served in that regiment for a year, taking part in the battles of Chickasaw Bayou, Arkansas Post, Magnolia Hill, Champion Hill, Jackson and the siege of Vicksburg. In December, 1863, he was discharged at New Orleans, and then returned home. He at this time owned a part interest in the home farm in Washington Township, the remainder being owned by the other heirs of the father. By hard work and thrift, he now managed to save enough to purchase the entire property and become the sole owner of the farm. He remained a farmer all of his life, though he had other interests. He assisted in the building of the Marion-Salem gravel road, one of the first in Grant County, and in 1885, he built a livery barn in Marion, at the corner of Adams and Third Streets, which he conducted for several years. He also built a fine home in Marion on North Branson Street, expecting to move into the city, but he died at the farm. In political matters he was an active member of the Democratic party.

    Irvin Love was united in marriage to Mrs. Emily Ballard on the 24th of October, 1868. She died on the 12th of April, 1882, leaving two children, George B. and Orville I. Love, the latter born March 20, 1878, and was killed by a horse on the 11th of April, 1892. On May 23, 1883, Mr. Love married for a second time Mrs. Hettie Pearman, a sister of his former wife, and his widow now resides in Marion. Mr. Love died on the 11th of May, 1899, and in his death Grant County lost one of her best and noblest citizens.

    George B. Love was born July 12, 1871, in the old log cabin home on the farm in Washington Township, Grant County, Indiana. He was reared on the farm and received his education in the schools of Washington Township and in Marion Normal College. After completing his education he went to work on the farm with his father, and continued to work with him until the latter's death. He always  lived at home but previous to his father's death he rented a farm south of the old home and worked it. Upon the death of Irvin Love he took the home farm and also bought the eighty acres adjoining, thus making him the owner of two hundred and forty acres of fine land. Although he moved to Marion in November, 1909, he still manages his farm and has made it prosper greatly. He owns an attractive home at 417 North Washington Street in Marion.

    In religious matters Mr. Love is a member of the Methodist Church, and fraternally he has affiliations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having been a member of this order since 1900.

    Mr. Love was married on the 8th of March, 1899, to Miss Almynta Tippey, a daughter of Jesse J. and Elizabeth A. (Westfall) Tippey, both natives of Grant County, Indiana. Mrs. Love was prominent in musical circles and was engaged in teaching school for several years prior to marriage. She is a member of and a very active worker in the First Methodist 'Episcopal Church at Marion. She is also prominent in W. C. T. U. circles, being Vice President of the Grant County, Indiana Women's Christian Temperance Union, and in 1907 the Love W. C. T. U., of Marion, was organized, and she was made its first President. The branch was organized with a membership of twenty-three, and it now enrolls one hundred members. Mrs. Love has been its President since its organization. Four children have graced the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Love as follows:

  1. Earl R., who was born on the 26 of May, 1900.

  2. Emily A., born August 13, 1901.

  3. Elizabeth G., born May 21, 1903.

  4. Mary E., born on the 15th of December, 1908.

Source: Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914, page 1230-31.