James Hamilton was born to Samuel and Anne Love on April 12, 1820 in Roxboro Parish, Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland. He emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City on June 11, 1841. He lived with an uncle and his family in Seneca Falls, New York, as well as with his Uncle Samuel and Aunt Margaret Dare in Albany, New York.
The 1850 census shows James, 30, Susan, 26, and their children, Eliza Ann, 4, Margaret Fannie, 2, and Sarah Jane, 1, living in Fayette, Seneca County, New York with James Love, 42, Andrew Love, 38, E.J. Love, 19, and John Patterson, 19.
James and Susan eventually had 3 more children while living in New York state, the twins, Albert Samuel and Alfred William, and James Henry. By the 1850's, the railroad extended as far west as Iowa and according to James Hamilton's autobiography, written in 1900, he, Susan and their 6 children moved to Glasgow, Iowa (Jefferson County) in April 1854 where he continued his vocation of "Peddler" using a push cart to show his wares. He did not have a store in that area. Three more children were born in Glasgow, Iowa. Samuel Dare, John
The letter written by Samuel Love to his son, William Dare, in 1860 (shown on the Generation 1 & 2 page) includes this comment about James Hamilton, "Uncle Moses received a letter from James on the 23rd of January last. He was then peddling in Ohio with Uncle Sam Love." Since James Hamilton states that he moved his family to Iowa in 1854 he would have had to retrace his steps back east to Ohio in order do any peddling.
According to the family history passed down by James Hamilton and Susan Love's grandson, Guy Dewey Love, Susan spoke Gaelic in her homeland and learned to speak English after arriving in the U.S., but never mastered writing in English and signed documents with an 'X'.
Susan Devitt Love
c. 1906
After James Hamilton died, Susan spent most of her time visiting her children. She spent the last eight years of her life living with her sister, Kate Ireton, in Fortville, Indiana, where she died on March 29, 1919, just 2 weeks prior to her 95th birthday. Her obituary follows.
Another of the pioneer residents of Albia has answered the summons in the death of Mrs. James H. Love at the home her sister in Fortville, Indiana. S.W. Pennington received a wire Saturday morning conveying the sad news and left the same day to bring the body to Albia for interment, arriving here Wednesday morning.
Funeral services were held at the Methodist church Wednesday afternoon conducted by Rev. George Blagg and interment was made in Oak View.
The following obituary was read at the funeral service: Susan Devitt was born in Ardarau, Donegal county, Ireland, April 14th, 1824, and died March 29, 1919. Had she lived until April 14th she would have reached the 95th mile stone, an age which few live to attain. After the death of her husband in 1908 she lived for awhile with her children, Anna of Everett, Wash., Jennie of Monrovia, California, John of Albia, Ida of Indianapolis, Ind., and the past eight years with her only surviving sister, Mrs. Kate Ireton of Fortville, Ind., who so tenderly cared for her until the summons came. For several years she was very deaf and almost blind so that life had lost its charm and she prayed that the dear Lord would call her home. When a young girl she came to the United States, residing in New York. On April 14, 1845, she was united in marriage to James H. Love. To this union eleven children were born. Seven survive her. They are Anna of Everett, Wash., William of California, Samuel of Everett, Wash., Henry of Los Angeles, Ida of Indianapolis and John and Charles of Albia.
My father taught school in the same building I was born in, from the time he was 18 years old until he died in 1870, and he was also the clerk of the Episcopal Church all these years, and kept a Sabbath school for his family, and any others which would attend Sabbath afternoons. I was early taught to pray. I was baptized when an infant, confirmed when about 12 to 14 years old, emigrated to the United States in 1841 and landed in New York City, 11th of June. In December, 1842, while visiting an uncle and aunt in the city of Albany, N.Y., I attended a protracted meeting in the Division street M. E. Church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. H.L. Stark, and the Rev. Jesse Peck afterwards Bishop, and on the night of December 1842 (sic), after returning to the home, I was born again of the spirit. What joy and peace filled my inmost soul. I have never forgotten the time, and place from then until now. It is indelibly fixed in my memory. I united with the M. E. Church in Albany, N.Y. The next place which I became a member of the M. E. Church was Canoga, Seneca Co., N.Y., and served awhile as Sabbath school superintendent. In April 1854, I came to Iowa, and to Glasgow, Jefferson county. I served awhile, I think one year, as Sabbath school supt. There we buried our Albert S., three years old, a twin, in the spring of 1855. February 18, 1862, I came to Albia, and became a member of the M. E. Church.
When the old brick church was built I was appointed one of the building committee, and its treasurer, and when the present church was erected, I was also one of the building committee, and treasurer. And when the Friends church was erected, I was chosen one of the building committee, and treasurer, and am treasurer at this writing.
I was married to Susan Duritt (sic), April 14, 1845, in the city of New York. We have had eleven children: Eliza Ann, born January 15, 1846, at this writing in the state of Washington. Margaret F., born August 6, 1847, who died Sept. 6, 1867, and lies in the cemetery here. Sarah Jane, born Feb. 9th, 1849, and lives at Burlington, Kansas. Alfred W. Love, born March 6, 1852, now in the state of California. James H. Love, Jr., born Mar. 8, 1854, Samuel D. Love, born April 26, 1858, now in Washington. John K. Love (sic), born May 8, 1858. Mary Emma born March 21, 1860, buried at Holdrege, Nebraska, November 21, 1888. Charles Love, born Feb. 18, 1863. Ida, born April 14, 1865, now in Indianapolis, Ind.
Nov. 7, 1893, I was taken with the grip, and a good part of the time since have felt the effects of it. I have been alone, except the presence of the Comforter, who has been cheering and comforting me along the way. I have wished may times, while confined to the house, and indeed would have been glad to bid adieu to time and timely things. I believe in sanctification Holiness, and living without committing sin. He that committeth sin is of the devil; be ye perfect as my Father which is in Heaven is perfect. We cannot attain infinite perfection, but we can finite perfection, and be perfect in Christ Jesus.
Albia, Iowa, March 6, 1900
My wife, Susan, has been a very faithful devoted and true wife and mother.
This is the Friends Church in the 1950's. It was located at North Clinton St. and "B" Avenue West, north of the Albia town square by 2 city blocks. In later years, the building was converted into a number of apartments.
Deceased departed this life Jan. 12th, 1908, the same date of the month on which he was born. He was injured by a fall a week previous to his death and did not recover from the accident. He was ready and anxious to go. He had been waiting to leave the world and the environments of the flesh. He leaves besides his aged wife, his aged sister, Mrs. Margaret Young, who came from Ireland when only nineteen years of age and who had depended on him for council and was a devoted and loyal sister. His children will miss him and his friends will deplore his departure, but greater than all his wife and sister will feel more deeply their loss and the absence of his companionship, the balance of their days. The children living away from here were not able to be present at the funeral.
Aside from his church interests Mr. Love was a member of the Albia school board for years and rendered faithful service. He built the Love block on the west side of the square and owned a large brick residence on West Washington street which a few years ago he sold to R.O. Cramer and moved into a cottage in the west part of town where he spent the remainder of his days. As a citizen and friend he was worthy and loyal and all will miss him from the community. Rev. Tyrrell read the following sketch that had been prepared by Mr. Love in 1900 and which tells his life better than we could give it:
The grave of
James Hamilton
and
Susan Devitt
Love
Oakview Cemetery
Albia, Iowa
In addition to the east side store, James Hamilton also owned a 200 acre farm 5 miles northwest of Albia in Bluff Creek Township, Monroe County, Iowa.
The farm was a busy place, where wagons were made and imported short-horn cattle, shire, coach, and Clydesdale horses were sold.
The farm also had a clay pit that was used to produce bricks for building. Experiments with a wood-fired kiln were a failure as the bricks were too soft. Finally, native coal was used for firing the kiln, resulting in a durable and much desired brick. These bricks were used to construct many buildings around the Albia square, including the Love Block built in 1894.
The death of James H. Love at his residence last Sunday afternoon took another pioneer citizen from the scenes of life and from the records of the past that he had no reason to be ashamed of.
A Pioneer's Death
One of Albia's Good Citizens has gone to his Eternal Reward
James H. Love had been a citizen of Albia since February of 1862. He was a pioneer merchant of this city and saw its commercial interests rise from a village of unimportant proportions to a promising county seat of city opportunities. He was ever interested in the development of municipal affairs. His heart was especially warm toward the religious growth of the city.
When the building of the old Methodist church was contemplated, Mr. Love was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the proposition and was a member of the building committee and gave of his means to erect and support the church. He was a faithful attendant upon all its services. He was a leader in its class meetings, a never failing member at the prayer meetings and an all round worker for every department of the church's interests.
In later years he united with the Friends church and was the principal promoter of the erection of the present edifice of that faith and died a loyal and honored member revered by his associates in the Lord's service, all of whom will miss his wise council and fatherly advice.
His funeral was conducted from the church and Rev. Tyrrell preached a most inspiring discourse over his bier. She talked of heavenly things and of the hope of meeting with the deceased brother in the great beyond where they should know each other and enjoy the associations of the Lord and all his redeemed. The church choir assisted by the M. E. singers furnished appropriate songs and Rev. Gardner of the M. E. church led in prayer. Miss Minnie Rowe presided at the organ.
The friends took final leave of the remains and a large concourse of sympathizing ones followed them to Oak View cemetery where all that was left of Uncle Jimmy Love was laid to rest till the call of judgment when the dead in the Lord shall rise first.
to view a detailed history of J.H. Love's
Dry Goods Store which includes the
actual Albia Newspaper reports of both
the 1893 and 1903 fires.
In 1875 James Hamilton Love purchased a building on the east side of the Albia town square. The building's store front was rented to various businesses over the years. In 1890, he had the building remodeled in the Italianate style. A photo of the building taken in 2005 is shown below:
The first Love Dry Goods Store was destroyed by fire in 1893. The photo to the right shows the new store built in 1894 to replace the first store.
Above: Historic tour plaque attached to the facade of the west side Love Block.
In 2016 the Love Block located on the east side of the Albia town square collapsed into the alley running along its north side and was subsequently demolished.
The 1894 building was destroyed by another devastating fire in late 1903. The photo to the right (c. 1909) shows the Love Block built in 1904. The Love Dry Goods business never reopened after the 1903 fire. The family rented the new first floor space to a mens' and boys' clothing retailer, The Golden Eagle, which opened a store in the Love Block in September of 1904 and continued operations until 1923.
Fires were very common in those years and,
since the town had no central water system,
the fire department had only what little
transported water there was to use to
fight fires and whatever help they could get
from the fire departments of nearby towns.
Photo courtesy of
Christine Flanigan Williams
Below: Historic tour plaque attached to the facade of the east side Love Block.
The sons of James Hamilton and Susan Love
Seated, left to right: Charles McGee, Samuel Dare and John Richard; standing, left to right: Alfred William and James Henry; this picture was probably taken in the early to mid 1890's since Samuel Dare & Alfred William left Albia by 1898.
James Hamilton and Susan Love built their home on West Washington Street, directly west of the west side store, and in the same city block. They sold their two-story brick home to R.O. Cramer sometime around 1900 and moved to what James Hamilton called "the bungalow," a smaller home on West Benton St. According to one of the obituaries written about him in 1908, he had been confined to his home most of the time in the years preceding his death. In his 1900 autobiography, he wrote, "November 7, 1893, I was taken with the grip, and a good part of the time since have felt the effects of it."
James Hamilton Love died January 12, 1908 in Albia, Iowa. His obituary follows.
