The history of the settlement of New England by European immigrants that began in the early 17th century has been examined in painstaking detail by many generations of scholars and researchers. The 19th century saw an increasing number of local histories and genealogies completed. The resources even then available provided the competent and committed researcher of the day the opportunity to compile relatively thorough volumes of genealogy and local history.
Among those genealogical works published in the 1890's was a 3-volume opus by two American author/compilers. Titled Genealogy of the Loveland Family, it was published by John Bigelow Loveland of Fremont, Ohio and George Loveland of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Printed in Fremont, Ohio by I.M. Keeler & Son, Volume I was published in 1892, Volume II in 1894, and Volume III in 1895.
Reassuringly in some ways, even then, the fundamental problems facing the amateur genealogist of "How much research and documentation are good enough?" and "Where do I find the time?" were addressed, in the words of John Bigelow Loveland,
"We have endeavored to make this a full and trustworthy history of the Loveland family in America, and we have probably succeeded so far as it is possible in works of this nature...
... Those who have desired to see an earlier appearance of this work will remember that we could give only our spare time to it.
To the many relatives and friends who have aided in collecting the materials for these volumes we are under lasting obligations, and we can but express the hope that we may yet have the pleasure of personally meeting the many excellent and interesting people whose courteous communications have given us a feeling of acquaintanceship and friendship towards them which will remain a bright page in our memory."
The Genealogy of the Loveland Family includes correspondence from many of the contemporary Loveland descendants who related their own family traditions regarding the origins of the Loveland families earliest found in the Connecticut River valley.
Copyright © 1998 Brian Phelps | Disclaimer | Contact Us