The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-03
'SOMERV|LLE is
general MANAGER
Former keokuk Man Placed at Head
of Texas and Pacific Railroad
as Reward for His !.
Ability.
ALWAYS POPULAR HERE
Trained in Old Burlington School, He
Has Risen Rapidly, and Leaves
Big Job in Washington
Now.
ALWAYS POPULAR HERE


James A. Somerville, who began his
railroad education in Keokuk. worked
here long, married here, and was al
ways a popular Keokuk man, has been
made general manager Of the Texas
and Pacific railroad and will live in
Fort Worth.
To be a general manager Is the
highest ambition of railroad man,
and to win that position by proved
efficiency and worth is about the high
est honor in the opinion of the men
who actually operate the railroads of
the United States.
In addition to the honor, James A.
Somerville has the unstinted friend
ship Of the people among whom he
lived and worked, in spite of the fact
that, especially in the old days, the
railroad stations and offices were often
far from popular in the community"
said a Keokuk man this morning.
Was Always Very Popular.
Mr.. Somerville, the son Of Captain
William Somerville, long superinten-
dent Of the Quincy soldiers home, was
born in that city and reared there.
| While still young, he went into the
| freight house there for a little while,
shut got his real start in railroading
when he was sent to the Burlington
roads old freight depot here, then on
the river front above the water works
about where the automobile parking
place at the water power entrance is
now.
Thirty years ago he was cashier in
| that old freight house. He was then
young man, popular in the very good
Keokuk society of the time, and ap-
preciated by all shippers and con-
signees Of freight.
"The first day arrived here nearly
thirty years ago, Jim Somerville took
some pains to save me ST in freight
on my household goods coming in, and
| l have been his friend ever since"
said an old resident of Keokuk to-
| day.
His Rise by Good Work.
After some moves on the railroad
| checker board, Mr. Someryille became
| the general agent of the Burlington
| route at Keokuk, and did his work so
/ well that he was sent down to st,
Louis to be superintendent Of termin-
| ais. He was promoted higher, step
| by step, transferred to the freight
department again and when the gov
eminent took over the railroads was
called to Washington.
| The great problem of the railroad
| administration was to keep the cars
moving, and Mr.. Somerville' was given
that Job for the United States His
| title was assistant manager of the car
service departm emit. He was big man
| in big job. and he made good.
| He did his work SO we'll, that he
was made general manager Of the
Texas and Pacific road the other day.
| While in Keokuk, he married Miss
Mary Wilkinson, daughter Of one Of
the Oldest and best families in the
city, Of southern lineage, and a very
popular girl.
| Graduate of Great School.
] James A. Somerville makes the
i 'steenth man trained in Keokuk, as a
high school of railroading, to reach
the position of general manager Of
| high rank.
| His name is added to the list which
| includes Howard Elliott, C. NJ Levy,
| w. C. Maxwell, A. c. Goodrich, j. F.
Elder and others who have been or are
] general managers, vice-presidents OF
railroads after learning their profess
| sion here in Keokuk.
! Actually. it was the remarkable rail
road school called the old Burlington
route, which under c. r. Perkins be