Our James Love owned much of the land situated north-east of the big bend of Rocky River just below the Reed gold mine. Upon his death the lands descended through the family to William A. Burkhead and then finally into the hands of Jesse D. Cox. Later deeds ca. 1850-1870 indicate old Mount Moriah Church was situated on the land near the intersection of present day Reed Mine and Hartsell roads. From near that spot, just north on Reed Mine road, running back to the west, was situated the northern boundary of what was once James Love’s land. And during the mid 1800’s, this line adjoined Lands owned to the north by Martin Randleman and John Barba. And lands to the north and east belonged to what was once the Reed Mine Company.

By 1850, the estate of James Love had long since been settled. The family by that date had moved mostly into Stanly County, living between present day Locust and Stanfield. The mine too had mostly played out. So setting the situation as such, there are several deeds in the Cabarrus County deed book that really make us wonder ….. what’s going on here!

Dated 9 August 1877, Jno. C. Love of the City of Philadelphia Pa purchased 30 acres of land (28-31, Cabarrus County NC) for the sale price of $1,000. Adjoining lands of “ Moses Linker, Jackson Linker, Reed mine Company & Rocky River,” John C. Love purchased the land from Aaron Linker and wife L. C.

Dated 5 Aug 1877, Jno. C. Love again of Philadelphia PA purchased an undisclosed amount of acreage (28-31, Cabarrus County NC). Again, Aaron Linker sold to John C. Love “the tract of land on which they now live adjoining the Furr Garman Mining Company.” The land also adjoined that owned by Wm. Linker, and Jackson Linker. For the sum of $2,000, John Love paid down $1,050 in “lawful money of the United States,” with the remainder being due in 90 days.

Dated 9 Aug 1877, Jno. C. Love of the City of Philadelphia PA purchased 60 acres (28-32, Cabarrus County NC). For the sum of “twenty hundred dollars,” Jno. C. Love purchased lands “on which I now live” … and joining Aaron Linker, and “the river at the mouth of the branch.”

Dated 9 Aug 1877, Jno. C. Love of the City of Philadelphia PA purchased 154 acres from Geo. Barba & wife Polly. For $4000, Jno. C Love purchased lands where Geo. Barba & wife now lives, adjoining the river, “a corner of the church,” “Reed & Hartsell’s corner,” and A. Hartsell’s corner. This appears to be part of or at least lands once adjoining that owned by our James Love.

D26 Mar 1890, John C. Love and Mary his wife of Philadelphia County, and State of Pennsylvania” sold lands to Elizabeth C. Love, single woman of Philadelphia.. Being 50 acres, the land adjoined Meadow Creek, Paul Furr’s line of the Hartman Tract, and Tucker’s land. In this transaction, John C. Love appeared before William C. Dicken, Notary Public in the County of Allegheny, State of PA. And Mary A. Love appeared before George A. Hunt, Commsioner of Deeds, City and County of Philadelphia PA.

Who is this John C. Love? Buting land on or near the old James Love land, we must aske how he fits in to the family? And looking back through census records for both Cabarrus and Stanly Counties, a John C. Love does not appear. Searching the census records for Philadelphia, I found the following in 1880:

43 Jno. C. Love Ireland (Miner) 34 Mary A. Love PA (Keeping House) 16 Cathn. W. Love PA (At School) 15 Lizzie C. Love PA (At School) 13 Robt. Love PA (At School) 1M Jno. C. Love PA (At Home) 57 Robt. W. Park PA (Father in Law – Mining) 61 Cath. W. Park PA (Mother in Law – At Home) 32 Wm Q. Park PA (Brother in Law – Mining) 19 Mary Hart PA (Other – Servant) 70 Margaret Hart PA (Other – Servant)

So it appears that Jno C. Love is legitimately not of our family. Note that during the late 1850’s, the Mayor of Pittsburgh PA was Mr. Robt. W. Park. And when John sold land to what appears to be his daughter Elizabeth C. Love, the transaction occurred in Allegheny County. Pittsburgh is in Allegheny County. Leaving this for now, let’s take a look at another John C. Love who goes mostly unnoticed in the annals of Stanly County.

Another man named John C. Love

At this point, I have yet to look through all the records for any hints of a Jno. C. Love living in the area of Stanly, Cabarrus, and Union Counties. But to get the ball rolling, let’s look at Civil War combined military records. John C. Love, John E. Love, John J. Love, Jonah Askew Love, Michael Garman Love, and James Wade Love, Postill P. Love all served in CSA Co. H, 42nd Reg NC. Among a group of thirty to fifty soldiers, these Love men surely knew well of each other. And well known in the life and the history of our family, all but two of these men are central to the telling of our story. At this point, lines have not been written to fully account for John J. Love and John C. Love. Though the combined military record for John J. states he resided in Stanly County, the record for John C. Love does not indicate his residency.

Dated 30 Apr 1864, John C. Love enlisted as Private in Petersburg VA. He served with the others under Capt. J. M. Hartsell. Notes on one of his cards state that he “joined from disertion Oct 18 1864 & deserted to the enemy Oct 29 1864.” A register of arrivals and dispositions of Federal and Rebel soldiers indicates J. C. Love was received Oct 30 1864 as a “Deserter from the Enemy. It appears he was received or captured at what was known as “Bermuda 100.” From the register of rebel deserters taking oath, Headquarters, the Provost Marshall, Bermuda Hundred VA makes the following report. John C. Love was captured at Dept. Headquarters, Nov 4 186_ and confined at that time. On Nov 4 186_ he was turned over to Pro. Maj. Gen. at City Point VA. And the final remarks: “To go to Philadelphia PA.” Looking at another paper, and on Nov 6 1864, charged as “Rebel Deserter,” Maj. Gen. Grant ordered that John C. Love be confined. He was sent on Nov 12 1864 to City Point where he was to be released. This by order of P. M. Gen Patrick. And again, the remark: “Went to Phila Pa.” Could it be? Is there any chance that John C. Love in 1880 Philadelphia listed as being born in PA is kinfolk?

Looking through post Civil War court records for Stanly County, the following is entered into the Jan 1867 minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session:

State vs. John C. Love
Suspended upon payment of costs.
E C. Griffin, Judgement of $50.