Virgil Lee Love was born in Sturgis, Kentucky to William R. Love and Maggie Myrtle Wilson on October 27, 1894. Virgil’s father, William, was a coal miner and likely followed work in the coal fields from Kentucky to Southern Illinois. The first census record they were found in was in 1910 where the family was located living in a rental home in Gaskins City, Illinois in Harrisburg Township, Saline County. 45 year old William and 41 year old Maggie during this census indicated that they had birthed 8 children, but only 3 of them lived and all were present in their home. The children were John W. 24, Arthur W. 20 and Virgil L. aged 15. Sons, John W. and Arthur W. we’re working alongside their father by working as coal miners to supplement the family income.
When Virgil filled out his WWI draft record in June 1917, he was working as a yard Brakeman for the C.C.C. & St. Louis Railroad in Harrisburg as well as living in the city. He was single and described physically as tall, medium build, with blue eyes and light hair.
Only months later, Virgil, at age 23, enlisted in the Army on August 2, 1917. He was assigned to the 17th Aero Squadron and served in France. Transport records were found indicating that he and his squadron departed St. Nazaire, France on March 4, 1919 and arrived back stateside at Hoboken, New Jersey on March 20, 1919 aboard a ship. He was discharged from service on April 7, 1919.
After discharge from the military, Virgil temporarily went back to live with his family. They were found in the 1920 census still living in Harrisburg, Illinois at 14 N. Washington in a home which his family owned free of mortgage. His 56 year old father, William, was still working the mines of Saline County along with his 33 year old son John. Virgil was 25 years old and had found work as a switchman for the railroad.
A newspaper article in the Marion Daily Republican noted that on March 7, 1926, Virgil had gotten married to Florence Bracy Surat. Florence was previously married to a Lawrence Surat but that he had been killed in July 1925 by Creston Bostin of Carbondale who was currently in prison for the killing. Virgil was noted to be formerly from Harrisburg and was now acting proprietor of the M & M Sweet Shop in Golconda, Illinois. The article noted that the young coupled would be making their home in Golconda.
Interestingly enough, only two years later in 1928, the coupled were found to be living in Marion at 408 N. Court Street and Virgil was working as a traveling salesman.
By the time the 1930 census was taken, Virgil 35 and Florence 30 were still living in a rental home at 408 N. Court Street paying $20 a month for rent. Virgil was then working as a newspaper dealer and Florence was a drug store clerk. Virgil was noted to be a WWI veteran and the couple had a radio in the home.
An article in the Marion Weekly Leader from July 1934 noted that Dr. Ralph Burkhart, Post Commander of the American Legion was planning on hosting the Southern Illinois Air Races to be started here at the Marion Municipal Airport on August 4th and 5th, 1934. Virgil was one of the individuals who was listed as serving on the promotion committee.
A 1934 Marion city directory indicated that Virgil and Florence were living at 301 N. Court and he was manager of the United Furniture Exchange.
In the 1935 city election, Virgil was elected to serve a four year term under Mayor Harry L. Crisp which lasted until 1939 in which Virgil served as Commissioner of Public Property.
When the 1940 federal census was taken, 45 year old Virgil and 40 year old Florence had purchased a home that they owned and valued at $5,000 at 421 E. Marion Street. Virgil was working as a merchant and reported that he had worked 52 weeks in 1939 but had no income from the previous week prior to the census being taken. The couple had one child living in the home who had been born in 1936 while Virgil was working as a Commissioner for the city, John Bracy Love was 4 years old.
In a 1941 Marion Street directory, Virgil and Flo were listed as living at 421 S. Calumet Street with Virgil selling furnaces and stokers.
By the mid 1940’s Virgil is no longer listed in the Marion Directories and presumably made the jump to live in Berkley, California where he worked for 24 years in the Art Department of Columbia Movie Studios. After his retirement from the movie studios, he moved back to Marion and then in 1980 moved to Cut Bank, Montana which is coincidentally the area where his daughter in law was from.
Florence passed away at age 84 in September of 1983 while living in Cut Bank, Montana. She had been born on October 18, 1898 to Joe Bracy and Sally Perry. Burial was in Crown Hlll Cemetery in Cut Bank. She was survived by her husband and son, John B., one grandson, John Byron Love, and one granddaughter, Mrs. Tom Foreman.
Virgil, passed away as a widower at the age of 89 in Toole County Nursing Home in Shelby, Montana in July 18, 1984. He was a past commander of the Marion American Legion and a member of the Marion Elks Lodge. Survivors include John Bracy Love of Cut Bank, Montana; two grandchildren, John Byron Love and Lisette Love Foremen and one great granddaughter, Kalee Foreman. Burial was in Crown Hill Cemetery, in Cut Bank, Montana.
Notes on Children:
John Bracy Love, born in Carbondale on June 6, 1936, married Karla Kay Kluth from Shelby, Montana on August 20, 1960. He died on December 19, 2023 in Whitefish, Montana and is buried at Mountain View Cemetery there.
(Sources: Federal Census records, Montana Death Records, Marion Daily Republican, Southern Illinoisan, Marion Weekly Leader, WWI and WWII draft records, Veterans Administration BIRL death records, VA database, Marion Street Directories, FindaGrave.com. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 7/03/2024)