Education and career
Born on March 4, 1820, in Fairfax County, Virginia,[1] the son of John and Mary Vermillion Love, Love moved with his mother to Zanesville, Ohio the year after his father died.[2] He read law in 1840,[1] first spending a year with his older brother, attorney Thomas R. Love, in Virginia, then in the office of Judge Richard Stillwell in Zanesville.[2] He entered private practice in Coshocton County, Ohio from 1840 to 1846, and from 1848 to 1850.[1] He served in the United States Army during the Mexican–American War from 1846 to 1848,[1] as a captain of the 3rd Ohio Regiment.[2] He continued private practice in Keokuk, Iowa starting in 1850.[1] He was a member of the Iowa Senate from 1853 to 1856.[1]
Federal judicial service
Love received a recess appointment from President Franklin Pierce on October 5, 1855, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Iowa vacated by Judge John James Dyer.[1] He was nominated to the same position by President Pierce on February 7, 1856.[1] He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 25, 1856, and received his commission on December 21, 1856.[1] Love was reassigned by operation of law to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa on July 20, 1882, to a new seat authorized by 22 Stat. 172.[1] His service terminated on July 2, 1891, due to his death in Keokuk.[1] He was the longest serving federal judge to be appointed by President Pierce.[2]
Other service
Concurrent with his federal judicial service, Love was a Professor of commercial law for the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa starting in 1875.[1] He was Chancellor of the University of Iowa College of Law.[1]
Personal life
Father of William T. Love, known for digging the Love Canal.
