In my research, I often find unique family names and places. With St. Valentine’s Day approaching, I wondered if there were any communities in Illinois called Love. A few of the towns listed in Illinois Place Names that contain the word “love” are; Love Township, Vermillion County, Love (unincorporated) in Bureau County, Lovedale (now Bellwood) Cook County, Lovedale, Kane County, Loveless, Macoupin County, and Loves Park, Winnebago County.
I also wondered if there were families by the name of Love living, or had lived in Naperville. An internet search found about a dozen or so current residents with the name of Love living in Naperville. A search of 100 years of census records (1840-1940) revealed a different story. There were no families called Love in Naperville between 1840 and 1940! In fact, the first Love families in DuPage County did not appear until the 1910 census (in Addison, Bloomingdale, Downers Grove, Milton and York Townships).
Where is all the love Naperville? Love is found in valentines. I knew that Valentine was a name I had seen among Naperville families and decided I would check the census records again. There were many men, predominately German and Catholic, named Valentine who lived in Naperville between 1850 and1940. The first Valentine I found was surnamed Kreger though incorrectly spelled Grager. Other Naperville families with a Valentine first name were; Bapst, Powell, Streit, Dieter (twice Mayor, city treasurer, council member), Bauer, Rott, Keller (great-grandfather of Naperville Municipal Band director, Ron Keller), Ory, Wood, and Arbogast (who is also listed in the 1957 telephone book).
Another valentine Napervillians may remember is a line of furniture made by the Kroehler Manufacturing Company. In 1927, Kroehler acquired the Chicago-based, Valentine-Seaver furniture company that was founded in 1889 by Louis Lincoln Valentine and Andrew Seaver. The Valentine-Seaver line of furniture was one of Kroehler’s/America’s most popular, Mid-Century Modern brands.
We love Naperville History, won’t you be my Valentine?!
