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Somerville, George Washington "Geo. W."

Senate 1899-1906 (District 19)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Brown, Redwood

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 6/3/1856 (uncertain)
Birth Place: Indiana
Birth County: Ripley
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: ??/??/1937
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Geo. W.
City of Residence (when first elected): Sleepy Eye
Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

EDUCATION

Olmsted County District Schools; Elementary School; Attended 3 Months Out of the Year
Eyota Schools; Secondary; At Age 16 and 17 Years Old
Rochester High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1876
University of Michigan, Law Department; Law Degree; 1879

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Attorney: Sleepy Eye, Minnesota (City Attorney, several years); 1??? to 1???
County Attorney: Brown County, Minnesota; 1882 to 1888

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Mary Fuller (married on November 21, 1881)
Children: Four children: Madge, Saxe, Caroline, and W. Wayne
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
William Somerville  - Father

GENERAL NOTES

Toensing and the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1899 list his birth year as 1856. Progressive Men of Minnesota, and The Book of Minnesotans list 1855.

He was of Irish ancestry on his father's side.

He came to Viola Township, Olmsted County, Minnesota in 1860, with his parents. He moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 1872. He moved to Sleepy Eye, Minnesota around 1879.

"In politics he has always been a Republican..." (Progressive Men of Minnesota, 1897, p. 452)

He was a member of the Masons, Knights Templar, Zurah Temple, Mystic Shrine, and Odd Fellows.

Total Days Served: 2926

SESSIONS SERVED

34th Legislative Session (1905-1906) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 19
Elected: 11/4/1902
Residence: Sleepy Eye
Term of Office: 1/6/1903 to 1/7/1907
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Republican
Committees:
  • Corporations
  • Illuminating Oils
  • Judiciary (Chair)
  • Judiciary: Constitutional Law
  • Judiciary: Taxation
  • Mines and Minerals
  • Rules
  • State Prison
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • University and University Lands

33rd Legislative Session (1903-1904)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 19
Elected: 11/4/1902
Residence: Sleepy Eye
Term of Office: 1/6/1903 to 1/7/1907
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Republican
Committees:
  • Corporations
  • Illuminating Oils
  • Judiciary (Chair)
  • Judiciary: Constitutional Law
  • Judiciary: Taxation
  • Mines and Minerals
  • Rules
  • State Prison
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • University and University Lands

32nd Legislative Session (1901-1902) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 19
Elected: 11/8/1898
Residence: Sleepy Eye
Term of Office: 1/3/1899 to 1/5/1903
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Republican
Committees:
  • Corporations (Chair)
  • Illuminating Oils
  • Judiciary
  • Mines and Minerals
  • Rules
  • State Prison
  • Taxes and Tax Laws

31st Legislative Session (1899-1900)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 19
Elected: 11/8/1898
Residence: Sleepy Eye
Term of Office: 1/3/1899 to 1/5/1903
Counties Represented: Brown, Redwood
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Republican
Committees:
  • Corporations
  • Illuminating Oils
  • Judiciary
  • Mines and Minerals
  • Rules
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Towns and Counties (Chair)