From "HISTORY OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY,"  Vol. I, pages 439-440.
Brant & Fuller, 1890.


HON. J. B. SOMMERVILLE

Hon. J. B. Sommerville, a gentleman who has represented the people in 
both branches of the legislature with honor, is one of the worthiest 
members of the Ohio county bar.  He was born in 1852 in Brooke 
county, W. Va., in the neighborhood of Bethany, a son of William M. 
and Margaret(Steele) Sommerville.  His father was a native of 
Harrison county, W. Va., and he was the son of a native of that 
county, who was descended from ancestors of Irish descent, who came 
to this country about the beginning of the Revolutionary war.  One of 
this family, the great-grandfather of the subject, was a pioneer of 
Harrison county.  The mother of the subject of this mention was a 
native of Brooke county, and died in 1872.  To these parents there 
were seven children born, of whom five are living.  J. B. Sommerville 
was reared in his native county, and was given the advantages of a 
good education.  In 1873 he was graduated by the West Liberty 
Normal school, and he subsequently attended Bethany college.  He 
engaged in teaching, and at the same time studied law, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1878.  He began the practice of his profession 
at Wellsburg, April 1, 1879.  While Mr. Sommerville was a student at 
Bethany college, he was nominated for the legislature by the 
democratic party, and was elected to the house of delegates in 1876.  
In 1884 he received the further honor of election to the state 
senate, representing the counties of Brooke, Hancock and Ohio.  In 
May, 1887, Mr. Sommerville made his home at Wheeling, where he has 
since had a successful practice.  Mr. Sommerville was married in May, 
1879, to Agnes G. Hosie, of Brooke county, a native of Baltimore, Md. 


(Linda Fluharty)