Isaac Love

Isaac Love was my gggg grandfather. He was one of Thomas Love's sons. He was born in Mississippi circa 1797.

It is believed that Isaac had two wives. There was a span of about twenty years between the birth of his first and last child. It is known that Isaac married Eliza McKinney, a mixed-blood. Eliza had a sister Martha McKinney who married Frank Colbert.

Harry Warren said that Isaac was "a riotous, drinking man". Even so, he was influential with his people. He was a member of the party which made a trip to the western country in the winter of 1830-1831 prior to the removal to inspect the proposed new home.

"A gentleman by the name of Ireland and Isaac Love who accompanied the exploring party returned a few days since." "...the account they give of the country west of the Mississippi is discouraging to the Chickasaws."

Isaac was opposed to the removal and even when most of the Chickasaws were preparing to leave Mississippi, Isaac was purchasing land from his half-sister Nancy Mahota Love, near Holly Springs, determined to remain in Mississippi. He apparently made several trips back and forth to the new Indian Territories until finally in 1844 he settled in the vacinity of Colbert on the Red River. His home was on the high land about 2 miles east of the present town of Colbert. The Love plantation consisted of hundreds of acres and extended from the home place to the Red River. Isaac died in the winter of 1881 and is buried in the family cemetery near Colbert.

Isaac was the father of the following children:

Elsira, Delila, Sarah, Benjamin Stephen, Emily, Mary, Wyatt C.M., Leander R.G., and Henry.

Elsira Love was born 7/31/1815 and died in 1857. She married William L. Lewis, b. 5/20/1823, d. 1/31/1897. He is buried near McKinney Texas. Family tradition has it that they left Holly Springs, MS in 1845 and settled near Fort Washita where Lewis worked for the Government as a blacksmith. Their children were: Mary Beatrice, Amanda Virginia (Ginny or Jennie) and Isaac Overton Lewis.

Delila Love was born 12/16, 1820. It is thought that she died in infancy.

Sarah Love was born on 3/4/1823 and died 3/3/1847. She had married John Preston Roark on 1/28/1841. She and John were the parents of James L. Roark, b. 4/29/1842.

Benjamin Stephen Love was born 2/18/1825 and died 12/26/1856. He married Eveline Colbert on 7/19/1849. She was the daughter of Alexander and Diana Colbert. The Chickasaw records refer to him as B.S. Love. He was the National Secretary for the Chickasaw Nation prior to Holmes Colbert.

Emily Love was born 2/18/1827. She was also married to John Preston Roark. It is theorized that she and her sister Sarah may have actually been married to John at the same time. It is known that the Chickasaw practiced polygamy until about 1855. John and Emily had a son Benjamin Franklin Roark, b. 5/10/1845. It is not known what happened to John, but Emily married a second time to David Calhoun Burney who was the son of Simon Burney and Peggy Allen. David had served as an attorney and judge in the Chickasaw Nation and he died in 1870. David and Emily had a son Ed Sehon Burney and Wesley Browning Burney. Emily died 3/2/1884.

Mary A. Love was born 4/14/1829. She married Charles Benhier on 10/19/1848.

Wyatt C.M. Love was born 10/17/1832 and died 6/1899?. He is buried at Colbert in the Love graveyard. Wyatt married Sarah Sparlin on 5/7/1856. They had nine children, some died in infancy.

Leander R.G. Love was born 6/24/1836 and died 12/29/1856. He testified on March 26, 1856 for the prosecution in the trial of John T. Pitchlynn, who was charged with the murder of Littleton Henderson Love. Leander was commissioned County Clerk of Panola County 12/17/1856 and died a few days later on the 29th.

Henry Love was born on 5/20/1839 and died 11/22/1901. He served in the Civil War as an Ord. Sgt. in the F & S Company during 1864 and 1865. His first wife was Jennie Goldsby. They had one son James Arthur Love, b. 1/17/1888.

[Submitted by: Viki Anderson]