Thomas Somerset Portrait and Biographical Record, Page 463 THOMAS SOMERSET, a veteran of the Civil War, and a prominent fruit and grainfarmer in Crockery Township, Ottawa County, was born in Sandusky County, Ohio,August 16, 1841. He is the son of Charles Somerset, a native of England, who inearly life emigrated to America, seeking in this land the fortune he believed itimpossible to secure in the country of his birth. In New York he met and marriedMiss Catherine Kelly, a native of Ireland, and of Scotch-Irish descent. From New York Mr. Somerset, Sr., removed to Ohio, and afterward went toWisconsin, sojourning for a time in Milwaukee. In 1848 he came to Grand Haven,becoming one of the first settlers of this place. Throughout his entire activelife he followed the calling of a farmer, in which he met with success. Hisdeath occurred in Spring Lake Township, at the age of sixty-seven years; hiswife passed away in the same township when sixty-six years old. Their son,Thomas, accompanied them from Ohio to Wisconsin, and thence to Michigan,remaining with them until he was twenty-six. On the 13th of May, 1861, the subject of this sketch enlisted inthe defense of the Old Flag, becoming a member of Company I, Third MichiganInfantry, and serving until June, 1864. Among the engagements in which heparticipated with his regiment were the first battle of Bull Run,Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, and he also took part in a numberof others. After the battle of Williamsburg he was sent to the hospital atYorktown, where he remained for one week, going from there to Portsmouth, wherehe sojourned for two months. He rejoined his company in time to participate inthe second battle of Bull Run. On the day following the battle of Cold Harbor hewas discharged at Detroit, and returned to Ottawa County, where he resumedfarming operations. The marriage of Mr. Somerset occurred October 24, 1867, and united him withMiss Catherine C. Miles, who was born in the State of New York, and diedFebruary 3, 1893, leaving four children, who, with her husband, mourn her loss.They are, Louise Elizabeth, Alice Mabel, Ada Corinthia and Georgia Eleanor. Twochildren, Johnnie T. and Ettie May, are deceased. In religious matters, Mrs.Somerset was in her girlhood a member of the Congregational Church, but forfourteen years prior to her demise she was identified with the MethodistEpiscopal Church. The father and mother of our subject were members of theEpiscopal and Catholic Churches respectively; he is liberal in his religiousviews, and generous in his contributions to the various church and benevolententerprises. The farm owned and cultivated by Mr. Somerset consists of three hundred andtwenty acres and is located seven miles southeast of Grand Haven, on the banksof Grand River. Since the time of purchasing the property, in 1864, Mr. Somersethas effected a number of valuable improvements upon the place, and thusmaterially enhanced its estimated worth. In his social affiliations, he is amember of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being identified with SpringLake Lodge; he has also taken the first degree in Masonry. His firstPresidential ballot was cast for Gen. McClellan, and he has since given hissupport to the Democracy.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & OttawaCounties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Susan Gates Davis
Created: 28 April 2003
URL: Biographies