City of Peoria -
* LOVE NEWTON MEREDITH.  In presenting to the public the representative men of the city of Peoria, and the state of Illinois, who have by a superior force of character and energy together with a combination of ripe qualities of ability and excellency, made themselves conspicuous and commanding in private and public life, we have no example more fit to present, and one more worthy a place in this volume than Newton Meredith Love.  Not only does he rise above the standard of his line of business, but he also processes in a high degree the excellences of human nature that make men worthy of regard among their fellows.  He is a high minded and liberal business man; one who is keenly alive to all the varying requirements of trade, and one of those who conduct operations of the most extended and weighty character and who, above all others, have succeeded in making Peoria a great commercial center.
     Newton Meredith Love was born in this city, Sept. 21, 1869, his parents being Newton B. and Sarah (Candee) Love.  The Love family is of Scotch-Irish origin and the founder of the family in this country.  John Love, came from Ireland about 1720.  Thomas Love, who was the great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and in the American army at that time were other members of the Love family.  John Love, the original American ancestor, was a member of the first general synod and descendants of the name were r uling elders of the Presbyterian church in this country.  The Candee family is of French origin and members of it were fugitives from the Huguenot persecutions.  This family was also established in the new world at a very early day - about 1740 - and various members were soldiers in the Revolution and following wars which have been waged in America.  The original name was Conde, but shortly after the establishment of the family in this country the present form was adopted.  The maternal uncle of our subject, George W. Candee, was deputy paymaster general of the United States army at the time of his death.  Newton P. Love was a railroad man of ability and for many years was the representative of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at Peoria.  His death occurred in 1888,, at the age of sixty-one years, and that of his wife in 1907, the latter passing away at the age seventy-six years.  Both were buried in Hope cemetery at Galesburg, Illinois, which is the Candee family burial place.  He was an elder in the First Presbyterian church in Peoria and a commissioner to the general assembly of that denomination..  Mr. Love is related through his mother's family to the Gales from whom the city of Galesburg was named.
     Newton Meredith Love received his education in the public schools of Peoria, and was graduated from the high school in 1886.  He then went to Knox College at Galesburg, where he studied a few years, and in 1888 entered the service of the Pennsylvania Railroad, his first position being that of office clerk.  He proved an intelligent and efficient worker, and was promoted from time to time until he was appointed freight solicitor for this division of the road.  In 1903 he succeeded M. W. Goss, who was retired, as agent at Peoria, Illinois.  This position he still retains.  Possibly there is no wider known or more popular man in the middle west in railroad traffic circles than Mr. Love.  he has been ever ready to advance the interests of his state and city in this line and was one of the chief promoters of the Transportation Club, of which he is now the second vice president.
     In his political faith he is a member of the republican party.  Fraternally he is a Scottish Rite Mason, belonging to the consistory, and is also a Shriner.  He is a member of the Creve Coeur Club, director of the Peoria Canoe Club, a member of the Kickapoo Club, and is also affiliated with the college fraternity Beta Theta Pi.  Although he was not a dealer in grain or what may be termed a grain man, still his enthusiasm, energy and untiring efforts in behalf of the promotion of the traffic and business interests of the grain trade gained for him the unsolicited honor of appointment to the vice presidency of the Peoria Board of Trade, and he is still a member of that organization.
     Mr. Love resides at 301 Ellis street with his sister, Mrs. Anna L. Archer, who is assistant librarian of the Peoria Public Library.  He has been a life-long member of the Presbyterian church, is an elder of the First church of Peoria, and was a commissioner to the general assembly of that denomination.  He has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Y. M. C. A. and a liberal financial contributor towards its building.  He is a true son of Peoria, where he has lived all his days, his prominence in commercial, social and church circles making him a representative citizen.  Throughout the history of the world, mere success has never, save in rare instances, been the cause of any man being remembered by his fellows after he has passed from life, and never has the mere accumulation of wealth won honor for any individual.  The methods employed in the attainment of prosperity however, may awaken approval and admiration, for the world pays its tribute to him who through enterprise, unfailing effort and clear-sighted judgment makes substantial advance in the business world without infringing on the rights and privileges of others.  Such is the record of Mr. Love who throughout his entire business career never deviated from a course that he believed to be right, but stands through many yeas as a leading representative of Peoria.
     He was early taught to comply with the Biblical injunction "Be diligent in business," and the religious and moral training which he received, coupled with his honorable lineage, caused him to early develop those essential traits of character, integrity, stamina and perseverance - which have contributed to make his business career an  honorable and successful one.
     Mr. Love is still a young man, full of the fire of youth, of wonderful energy and tireless diligence, learned in his profession, gifted preeminently with engaging social qualities which draw around him numbers of friends wherever he goes.  He has all that straightforward courage and sincerity, that unfaltering integrity of purpose and whole-hearted generosity of impulse which fit a man for leadership; he is welcomed and appreciated in every circle, social and political, and his hold upon the hearts of the people at large is growing firmer and stronger with the flight of years.
 Source: Peoria City and County, Illinois - The S. J. Clarke Publ. Co. - 1912 - Page 113