My Genealogy Hound

John M. Somervell is the county and circuit clerk of Howard County, Ark., and was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., January 23, 1843, being the sixth of eleven children born to Willis L. and Mary A. (Martin) Somervell, the former of whom was a successful planter of Tennessee, and moved to Arkansas in 1847, settling in Tulip, Dallas County, where he was engaged in managing the extensive plantation, sixty hands being under his control. He was an active and wide-awake citizen, and for several years served in the capacity of judge of Dallas County. In 1863 he moved the most of his slaves to Western Texas, where he died on November 18, 1864, being still survived by his wife. The great-grandfather came to America from the Old World with two brothers and settled in Virginia. John M. Somervell attended the schools of Tulip, in Dallas County, but in June, 1861, laid aside his books to take up arms in the defense of the Southern cause, enlisting in Company I, Third Arkansas Regiment, and immediately went to Virginia and organized at Lynchburg, afterward participating in the battles of Greenbriar River; was with Gen. Jackson in Pennsylvania; was in the seven days fight in front of Richmond; was with Lee in Maryland. At the battle of Sharpsburg he was badly wounded, and his eldest brother Willis, was killed. As soon as he was able to travel, John M. returned to Arkansas, and upon fully recovering, he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Department, and joined Slemmons’ Second Arkansas Cavalry, in which he served until the close of the war, being in the battles at Poison Springs, Marks' Mill, Jenkins' Ferry, and was with Price on his celebrated Missouri campaign. His regiment was disbanded near Corsicana, on Trinity River, Tex., in May, 1865, and Mr. Somervell then returned to his home in Tulip, Ark. In 1867 he went to Memphis, a year later to Louisville, Ky., where he entered a grocery house as clerk, but in 1868 went to Tipton County, Tenn., and was married there to Miss Ellen Somervell, a cousin, and until 1870 made his home in Tennessee, after which he settled in Hempstead County, Ark., and upon the organization of Howard County in 1873, he took up his abode here on a good farm. During 1875-76 he taught school, and after his removal to Centre Point, in 1877, he followed the same occupation for four years. His wife had for some time been in very poor health, and in order to restore her failing energies, she made a trip to California, but while there passed to her long home in 1881. She left four children: Willis L., William J. (who died in 1886), Mary and Sue. In 1883 Mr. Somervell took for his second wife Mrs. Mollie (Finn) Forshee, of Hope, a daughter of Richard Finn, of Washington, and to them has been born one son, Dick Finn. In November, 1883, Mr. Somervell was elected to the position of county clerk, and has filled the office by re-election ever since, proving himself a capable and courteous official. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Centre Point Lodge No. 87, and Hill Chapter No. 24. He and family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.