BIOGRAPHY: John H. SOMMERVILLE, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 410-1
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JOHN H. SOMMERVILLE, a respected citizen of Patton, and a retired farmer and 
lumberman of many years of successful experience, is a son of William H. and 
Jane (Laverty) Sommerville, and was born in Chest township, Clearfield county, 
Pennsylvania, March 20, 1838. He is descended from Scottish ancestors, and his 
paternal grandfather, James Sommerville, was a Revolutionary soldier, and after 
peace settled at the site of Gaysport, Blair county, which was afterwards built 
on his farm. James Sommerville became prominent in local affairs, was known as 
'Squire Sommerville, from being justice of the peace, and had been for many 
years a member of the Presbyterian church. He married Mary Holliday, who was a 
member of the celebrated Holliday family after which Hollidaysburg was named, 
and which was founded in 1768 by Adam and William Holliday, natives of the north 
of Ireland, and pioneers and frontiersmen of the Juniata Valley. 'Squire and 
Mrs. Somerville reared a large family, of which William H. Sommerville was the 
youngest child. William H. Sommerville was born at Gaysport, Blair county, in 
1800, and died in Chest township. He removed in 1836 to Chest township, where he 
purchased and tilled a small farm, but finding active business life more to his 
inclinations, he devoted most of his time to lumbering. He did a large lumbering 
business on the Susquehanna river. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, 
and married Jean, daughter of James Laverty, of Susquehanna, then a part of 
White township. Mr. and Mrs. Sommerville reared a family of seven sons and four 
daughters: James, a farmer of Susquehanna township; John H., William and 
Holliday, who are dead; Samuel, a hotel keeper at Niagara Falls, New York; 
Blair, engaged in farming in Clearfield county; Daniel and Mary Jane, who are 
deceased; Ruth married Oliver Stephens, and is now dead; Martha Jane, wife of 
Joseph Stiffler, and Etta, who married a Mr. Baldwin.
    John H. Sommerville passed the early years of his life in farm labors and 
lumber camp work, and after attending the common schools of Clearfield county, 
he entered the Pollock Commercial college, of Philadelphia, from which he was 
graduated in the class of 1864. Leaving Philadelphia, he engaged in lumbering on 
the Susquehanna river, and gave to it all of his time for four years, during 
which he did an exceptionally good business. He then purchased his father's 
farm, which contained one hundred and twenty acres, and was one of the richest 
farms of North Cambria county, and divided his time, between farming and 
lumbering from 1868 to 1890, when he gave up the latter line of business after a 
successful experience therein of twenty-six years. Turning his attention to 
farming, he spent four years in developing and improving his farm, and then 
removed to Patton, where he has resided ever since, free from the many onerous 
duties of an active business life. His business career was a very busy one, full 
of labor, physical and mental, and he made it one of success.
    In June, 1865, Mr. Sommerville wedded Mary Helfrich, daughter of Nicholas 
Helfrich, of Chest township. To their union have been born four children, all 
sons: Jesse, now deceased; Dr. Harry, a graduate of the Cincinnati Medical 
college, and a resident physician of Chest Springs; Raynal, a graduate of Ann 
Arbor, Michigan, Law school, and a lawyer of Patton; and Guy, now deceased.
    A democrat in his political faith, Mr. Sommerville is identified with every 
move for the success of his party, but never sought for office or aspired for 
position. He is a member of Noble Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of 
Currensville, this State, and the Patrons of Husbandry. When busy in active life 
he never neglected a duty, and when now enjoying a self-earned competency he 
heeds every just demand upon his time and attention.