The Pioneer Love Family

By William T. Pinkard

About 1848 or 1850, John T. Love and his wife, Agnes Hensley Love, arrived in Texas, settling in this area. They had come from Decatur, Alabama, having moved from Blount County, Tennessee. The parents of John T. Love were James Samuel Love and Ophelia Matkins, British subjects, who came to America in 1790.

The children of J. T. and Agnes Love were Susan (Mrs. Joseph Smith); Catherine (Mrs. William Wallace); Mary, who was married first to a Mr. Evans and later to Mr. Jenkins; Sarah, who married H. Wallace and later a Mr. Burk; Jane (Mrs. William Dennison); Fannie, who died en route to Texas; John Rufus, who married Elizabeth Slover; Necey (Mrs. J. P. Matkins); Laura (Mrs. Frank Pool); and James Samuel, who married Margaret Ann Fowler.

When James Samuel Love married Margaret Ann Fowler, she was 17 years old, and held the position of first postmistress of Red Oak, Ellis County, Texas. Her parents, Thomas Wesley Fowler and Elinor Marchbanks Fowler, had settled in Ellis County, and built the first store at Waxahachie.

Mr. and Mrs. James S. Love moved to the Jacksonville vacinity and settled northeast of town. They were parents of thirteen children, two dying in infancy. Others were Frances Love, who married John Battle; Malissa Jane married T. J. Willis; William Robert married Nettie Howell; Laura Hixey married Joe Battle; Ninnie Sue married John B. Merritt; Sarah Ophelia married T. M. Boles; Henrietta married Fred L. Haberle; Willie married William H. Sory; John Wesley married Texanna Pickens; James C. and Theodore were bachelors.

Descendants of these well-known pioneers include many citizens residing in Jacksonville and its surrounding areas. They have contributed, and still are contributing, to the town.