He then entered the law office of F. A. Shoemaker, Esq., in Ebensburg, where he read law under the tutorship of Mr. Shoemaker for one year, and was admitted to the Cambria County bar in March, 1894. After being admitted to the bar he located at Patton, a then thriving coal town, were he opened a law office in the Good Building in March, 1894, which office he occupies at the present time. He has established a large and lucrative practice, and although busy with legal affairs he has given liberally of his time and talents to the furtherance of municipal improvements. He was active in securing the graded and splendid high school buildings in Patton, the paving of its streets, the building of a filtration plant, that an adequate supply of pure water is always available for the city, and as the splendid system of permanent highways traversing all sections of the northern Cambria County.
Mr. Somerville was married in September, 1902, to Miss Eva Rebecca Derr, of Renovo, Pa., but following a brief illness, she died in May of the following year. On July 7, 1907, Mr. Somerville married Miss Catherine Metzler, of Fulton County, Pa., the daughter of George F. and Tena (Clevinger) Metzler. Mr. Metzler resides at Harrisonville, Pa. His wife is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Somerville have three children: Dorothy, born in 1910; George, born in 1915; and Naomi, born in 1917.
Mr. Somerville has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Patton for more than 25 years. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Chetremon Country Club. At present he is president of the Kiwanis Club. He has been identified with the Republican party all his life but has never held pubic office. His name has been suggested at various times for public office, but office holding has never appealed to him and he has declined.
Dr. John Murphy, prominent pioneer physician and surgeon of Loretto, is descended from a family the earlier members of which were among the first settlers of the State of Pennsylvania. He was born at Ebensburg, Sept. 23, 1855, the son of John F. and Lucinda (Todd) Murphy.
John F. Murphy was born in Cambria County in 1834, the son of Michael Murphy, also a native of this county. John F. Murphy was a prominent builder and carpenter and spent his entire life in Ebensburg. Shortly after his marriage to Lucinda Todd, he died, and his wife died soon after. They had only one child, Dr. John, the subject of this sketch.
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