John Somerville (1840-1928)

SOMERVILLE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 11/3/2022 at 22:15:54

John Somerville
(December 31, 1840 – September 27, 1928)

The pioneer history of Calhoun County would not be complete without mention of John Somerville, who in connection with his brother-in-law and partner, Robert Glover, has been closely associated with agricultural interests in this county for many years, covering the period of pioneer development as well as of later-day progress. Scotland has furnished many worthy sons to America, and the Scotch-American citizenship has ever been held in highest honor and counted of value, because thrift, industry and loyalty are numbered among the sterling characteristics of the sons of the land of hills and heather.
Mr. Somerville was born in Glasgow, Scotland, December 31, 1840, and is a son of William Somerville, whose history is given in connection with the sketch of Robert Glover. In the year 1849 Mr. Somerville accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, and for a few months he attended school in New York, but his educational privileges in this country were very meager. He early began working at the machinist's trade, which he followed continuously until after the Civil war had been inaugurated, when he responded to the country’s call for aid, enlisting on the 21st of December, 1861, as a member of Company K. Ninety-fourth New York Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Captain Littlefield and Colonel Yielie. The
command was sent to Virginia and was afterward assigned to the First Corps of the Army of the Potomac. He served with the Army of the Potomac for four years in the First and Fifth Corps and was in many of the most important engagements of the war, proving his valor and loyalty on many a southern battle-field. In November, 1865,
he received an honorable discharge, and the war having closed he was mustered out at Washington. In December of the same year Mr. Somerville came to the Mississippi valley, locating first in Illinois, and in the spring of 1866 he came to Iowa with Charles Jones, Samuel Radley, Calvin Griffith and Robert Glover, with their respective families. In connection with Mr. Glover he purchased land and began farming, and at different
times they bought other lands, but have now disposed of much of their property. They have always continued their partnership, the
business relations between them being mutually pleasant and profitable. Their affairs have been so well managed, their business interests so carefully conducted that they have met with very gratifying success. Mr. Somerville has also been honored with public office, in which his duties have been discharged with the utmost fidelity and faithfulness. He has been county supervisor for two terms, also township trustee, and for a number of terms was assessor. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, for his study of the platforms of the different parties has led him to the belief that its principles are best conducive to good government. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades with whom he marched over southern battle-fields in defense of the Union. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S.J. Clarke, 1902, p.432