| Memorial Corner O'Fallon, Illinois |
| July 2006 |
| Henry P. Love Private Unites States Army World War I +++ 1898-1918 |
| Henry P. Love was born July 27, 1898 in Ridge Prairie, what is now western O'Fallon. After attending St. Clare Catholic school, he worked at Willard's Stove Foundry and also for the East St. Louis and Suburban Railway Co. In 1917 on his 19th birthday, he enlisted in the National Guard as a private. He received training at Camp Logan, Texas. He was transferred to the 130th Infantry when the National Guard was federalized and sent to Camp Merritt, New Jersey. From there he went overseas in June 1918. During his service in World War I, he made several trips to the front. In November 1918, he was mortally wounded by machine gun fire while in action on the front lines at Marcheville, France. He died on November 10, the day before the Armistice was signed. Love, along with three other Americans, were found in a cluster of bushes where they had apparently taken refuge after being wounded. His body arrived in O'Fallon on Saturday, July 30, 1921 and was taken to the home of his grandfather, Henry Oberneufemann. The following Monday, a requiem mass was said at St. Clare Catholic Church. He was buried in St. Clare Catholic Cemetery with full military honors and accompanied by the O'Fallon Band. He was survived by his mother, Mrs. Anna Love of Trenton, brother Joseph Love of O'Fallon, grandfather Henry Oberneufemann and many friends and relatives. At the time, he was the youngest O'Fallonite and only member of St. Clare's Catholic Church to have given his life for his country. He was just over 20 years old. He gave his life that we might live free! Memorial Corner Flag Raising, July 1, 2006 — sponsored by the O’Fallon Woman’s Club Biography and photo provided by the O’Fallon Historical Society |
