The Love family has been very involved in many aspects of the development of Grand Bend. Their story is representative of many other family stories in the Grand Bend area. It gives an example of life in the farming community.

LOVE HERITAGE

In 1843 two cousins, both named Hugh Love immigrated to Canada. "Big Hugh" Love was only 13 years old when he left Beith, Scotland. "Little Hugh" Love was about the same age. The two cousins first settled in the Twp of Blenheim, County of Oxford, and then later moved to the Huron Tract near Hills Green. One family story indicates that the two boys came by themselves.

"Little Hugh" married Christina Forrest in 1860 at Rogerville near Exeter, Huron County. She had sailed from Scotland on the same boat as Hugh but they didn't know each other then. She was born in 1840 so would have only been three years old when she immigrated. They lived the first 14 years of their married life at Hills Green and parented six children. In 1874 they moved to the Grand Bend area and settled on Lot 12, Concession 20, where the Grand Bend Motorplex now exists. There, their family continued to grow with six more children.

The land at Grand Bend was purchased from the Canada Company by "Big Hugh" in 1849. In later years his eighth child, Thomas Love, took over the farm with his family. In 1938, it was purchased by Thomas' son, Ross Love and Ross's wife Nola (Hodgins). The "family farm" lost the Love name in 1942 when it was take over by the Dominion Government to be an Auxiliary Airport for the Centralia Training School and Airport during World War II.

John Love was the third child of "Little Hugh" and Christina. He and his wife Alice (Turnbull), settled on neighbouring land (Lot 11, Conc. 20), where they raised their family of four, one being William Hugh Love. In 1919, William purchased the next farm down the road, which is the farm we (John & Joan Love) now live on (Lot 10, Conc. 20) from John Sherritt. William married Florence (Gill) in 1920 and their four children -- Ruth, Helen, Jim, and Alex -- were born on this farm. From 1952 until 1984 this farm was owned and operated by Jim & Marg (Cann). In 1984, it became our home (John & Joan (Lagerwerf) Love).