My Genealogy Hound

Andrew J. Somers was a son of one of the pioneer preachers of Arkansas, who was a native of North Carolina, and was born and reared at the head of the Albermarle Sound, and educated in Tennessee. Rev. John B. Somers married Mariva B. Burrow, of Georgia birth, and immigrated to Arkansas in the winter of 1845, where he settled in Dallas County, and the following year moved to Jefferson County, where he engaged in farming for five years. In 1851 he came to Lonoke County, and settled on a farm where Andrew J. now lives, and opened up a place of 200 acres, on which he resided until his death, April 4, 1876. His wife survived him until October 20, 1884. Andrew J. Somers, who was born in Carroll County, Tenn., April 21, 1837, moved to this county with his father, and has since resided on or near the old home stead. In 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service, in Col. Monroe’s cavalry regiment, Cable’s brigade and Fagan’s division, in which he served until the close of the war, participating in the battles of Jenkins’ Ferry, Mark’s Mills, Pine Bluff, and a number of skirmishes. He had a dozen or more bullets shot through his hat, his clothes also being cut by them, but he escaped from even a flesh-wound. After the war he returned to his old home and ran a wood and iron shop one year, when in 1867, he commenced farming on the old place, where he now lives. Mr. Somers has a fine farm situated two miles and a half south of England Station, containing 307 acres, with 110 acres in cultivation. Upon it are tolerably good buildings, and two fine orchards of apples, peaches, pears and plums. Mr. Somers is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which he is district steward, recording steward and superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a leading man of his county, and takes an active part in all work for the good of the community in which he lives.