Chatham County GaArchives Biographies.....Lovell, Edward 1816 - 1888
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 13, 2004, 11:24 pm

Author: William Harden
p. 632-633

   EDWARD LOVELL. Among those men who have contributed by their enterprise and
public spirit to the permanent growth and prosperity of Savannah, Edward Lovell
will always have a prominent place. Mr. Lovell was born at Medway,
Massachusetts, on the 4th of March, 1816, and came to Savannah in 1835, then a
little seaport having a limited commerce carried on by sloops and brigs, the
river being too shallow to admit larger vessels. Mr. Lovell, as soon as he
attained his majority, embarked in business for himself, his first venture being
a gun store, and in addition to the sale of guns, he carried on a repair
department. Three years of continued success in the primal undertaking warranted
him in enlarging the business, and he then added a complete line of hardware and
house-furnishing goods. Prosperity attended his every effort, and in 1848 he
established the house known as Lovell & Latti-more, his brother Nathaniel coming
into the firm as a member, as well as his friend, William Lattimore. The firm
continued with this personnel until 1868. In that year his son, Edward F.
Lovell, having reached his majority, Edward Lovell retired from the firm of
Lovell & Lattimore, leaving the good will, the established stand of the business
and the familiar firm name to his partners. Upon the death of Mr. Crawford in
1884, a new firm took its place, comprised of Edward Lovell and his two sons,
Edward F. and Robert P. Lovell. The new firm soon came to be recognized as one
of the largest hardware and iron houses in the state and has so continued,
notwithstanding his death, which occurred on August 25, 1888.

   Mr. Lovell, by his sagacity and experience laid the foundation broad and deep
for an ever growing and successful business, and the impress of his wisdom and
integrity is exemplified in the name of Edward Lovell Sons, under which the
business still continues. Mr. Lovell was a man of great industry and
application, but so methodical and exact was he in all his transactions that he
was able to carry out every detail of business without hurry or confusion,
accomplishing a vast amount of work without the apparent sacrifice of mental or
physical activity. He was excessively loyal to his adopted city and had
confidence in her ultimate success. He did not hoard his gains and after filling
his coffers remove himself and his wealth to the place of his birth, there to
enjoy in ease and comfort his well earned rest, but actively participated in
every important enterprise that promised to advance the interest and prosperity
of Savannah. He invested his income judiciously in permanent improvements, in
real estate in and out of the city, and he became interested in financial and
manufacturing ventures which have contributed largely to the growth and progress
of Savannah. He was early interested in the Savannah & Ogeeehee canal, which, in
its day, floated millions of feet of lumber and timber to the city and before
the construction of the Central railroad was an important highway of commerce to
this point on the coast of Georgia. Mr. Lovell held the office of president of
this company for many years. He was a director in the Atlantic & Gulf Railroad,
president of the Savannah Brick Manufacturing Company, vice-president of the
Oglethorpe Savings and Trust Company, while his name appeared as a stockholder
and contributor to many of the corporations and associations formed for the
promotion of manufacturing and commerce. Not only was Mr. Lovell loyal to his
adopted home in contributing to its growth and material prosperity, but he was
also true to it in time of war and pestilence. Although he was exempt from
service by reason of his age, he served the Confederacy in superintending the
construction of batteries and earthworks in the defense around Savannah. With
the capacity and fitness for business so eminently displayed, Mr. Lovell
possessed the estimable qualities of charity and benevolence, unostentatious but
effective, dispensing relief to the needy and distressed with a lavish but
discriminating hand. No worthy object ever appealed to him in vain.

   Mr. Lovell was married on May 4, 1845, to Miss Mary A. Bates, of Cohasset,
Massachusetts, who proved herself a devoted wife and constant companion. They
became the parents of two sons, Edward F. and Robert P., who were associated
with their father in business during the latter years of his life, and who now
are carrying on the business founded by him. Both of them have been given more
detailed mention in separate biographical sketches elsewhere in the pages of
this work. The wife and mother did not long survive the death of her honored
husband, her passing taking place on December 23, 1891. This worthy couple left
a good name to their children, a heritage more lasting than wealth or earthly
preferment. Mr. Lovell was social in his instincts and feelings, and while
immersed in the cares of business and discharging many duties and trusts, both
of a public and private nature, he found time to participate in the pleasant
associations of Odd Fellowship as a member of Live Oak lodge, and he was for
many years an honored member of that time-honored corps, the Chatham
Artillery,—a military company which united the discipline of the soldier and the
amenities of social engagement more successfully than any other of the volunteer
militia of Georgia. Mr. Lovell was an honorary member of the Chatham Artillery
at the time of his death. In connection with his military record, Mr. Lovell
came of a family which has, since its establishment in America, given aid to the
public cause. His father, Zachariah Lovell, son of Nathaniel, who was a
Continental soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his great-grandfather,
Hopestill Lovell, took part in the French and Indian war of 1745.


Additional Comments:
From:

A HISTORY OF SAVANNAH AND SOUTH GEORGIA
BY
WILLIAM HARDEN

VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK
1913

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