The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-25
REACHED A
GREAT AGE
Mr.. r. B. Somcrvillc Passes
Away at Age Of Ninety
one Years.
WOULDN'T WORK ON SUNDAY
Took Firm Stand for Right
and He Never Re
GREETED It.

Mr. r. B. Eomerville, one OF the best
known citizens OF Richmond, passed
away quietly at 8 o'clock last night at
the residence OF his son-ln-law, Mr.. b.
c. Wherry, No. 312 South Third Street
Mr.. somervlle was born In Culpeper
county, va, August /, 1919, and at his
death was in the ninety-second year of
hts age. He was the son of James and
Mary Atwell Somervile. His father
owned a very large estate In Culpeper
county, aud named 1t ''somerville," and
to this day it is in possession Of the
Somervilles-a beautifui place on the
kapidan River
who lived In the family, as was the GUS
tom in those days. Ills father was very
anxious for him to study mediclue and
become praItlcing physician, out tne
boy did not take to this, and his father
sent hin, to Fredericksburg, Va, and
placed him there Wlth q friend OF mis-
by the name Of Scott, who ran a large
Mr.. Scott, receiving no compensation.
Young Somerville, = desiring to have g a
larger field for his business desires he
resolved to- come to Richmond, and Sc
General Bernard Peyton and. as was
usual III days Of old, paid a hundred dol
lars for twelve months instruction. After
this he received small salary. and being
bright boy, he was Induced to accel2ls
a position with Meesrs. Frederick Anuer-
son and Company as Their bookkeeper
and cashier
"A Brave Answer.
The Andersons not being very religious
~ inclined, one Nof them requested young
SomerTllle, who was then ABOUT twenty.
one years old, to meet him at the Office
next morning, which was Sunday, as he
wanted to attend to 50 me business to bs
derson, will stay here with you uttil
II clock tonight. but when Sunday
morning comes drop all work. II this
does not surt you. I am prepared to give
ever settled the matter as to Sunday
work by the Anderson firm. Young
Somervllle remained With them until Just
before the Anderson firm dissolved, when
young somerville formed a co-partnership
with Mr.. John NJ Shields, under the
{ firm name OF Shields and Somerviile. This
firm existed for thirty-one years. until
and during the war between the States.
After the war Mr.. Somcrv lie, having
lost everything, commenced business upon
I a smaller scale by himself, until he form
I ed copartnership with Mr.. Thomas
Deane. under the firm name Of Deane q
Somerville. This firm existed until the
death Of Mr.. Dean, when Mr.. Francis H.,
Deane took the place Of his uncle, the.
firm name rem a ming tho same. This
firm continued for several years. when
under mutual consent. dissolved and Mr..
Somerville took with him his son Robert,
under the firm name of r. 3. Someville
& Son. 81 3st
Mr.. Robert somerville decided to
change his business and became a civil
engineer. The firm was dissolved and
Mr.. Someville continued the commission
business, under his own name. This con-
timed until some two years ago. when he
felt he was getting too old to give that
attention to business that was necessary
to meet with any degree OF success
Mr.. Somervile came to- Richmond in
1883.
Mr.. someryille was OF religious
parentage, and when he first came to
Richmond. began to look out for some
Presbyter an Church, with which he could
unite, he having. been brought up in that
faith, and previously united with a
church OF that denomination in Fred
cricksburg. He very soon Joined Shockoe
Hill Presbyterian Church, what is now
known as the Grace Street Presbyterian
Church. a w
An Active Worker.
Mr.. Somervllle soon took a. very active