As early as the 1840's when the anti-liquor movement started, one of their primary excuses for abolishing drink or drunkeness was spousal abuse. I would bet that if there was spousal abuse there would have been child abuse too.

As far as parents loving their children, I suppose they did, but they worked them like a slaveowner worked his slaves. They were taught that even until their twenties and thirties that The "Ole Man" was boss.