Obituary MR. GEORGE SOMERVILLE
The death occurred at Jetsonville on Saturday, at the residence of his son, of Mr. Geo. Somerville, a well known resident, in his 83rd year.
Deceased was born at Lilydale, and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Somerville, one of the earliest settlers in the district. Mr. Geo. Somerville was one of the first scholars at the Lilydale State School, and he and his two brothers — William and Samuel — erected the first sawmill in the Lilydale district in 1886.
One of their first contracts was to cut timber for the erection of 90 cottages for the Bangor slate quarries. These cottages were erected in three blocks of 30 each, one block for Cornishmen, one for Welshmen, and the other for Australians. This mill was erected, by the late Mr. John Batten, of Lefroy, and employed about 12 men. Another notable contract which the brothers Somerville took in hand was the cutting of sleepers for the Scottsdale railway.
When the brothers gave up sawmilling, Mr. Geo. Somerville took up land in the Wyena district, where he engaged in mixed farming. He later came to the Scottsdale district and has lived here for a good many years.
There was a family of seven, including Eileen (Mrs. S. C. Allen, Jetsonville, Annie (Mrs. H. B. Aikman, Scottsdale), Alice (Mrs. Athol Brown, North Scottsdale), James and Harold (Scottsdale). Two daughters — Elvie and Myra — died some years ago.
The funeral took place yesterday, when the remains were interred in Ellesmere cemetery. The service at the graveside was conducted by Mr. Alison-Norris, Presbyterian Minister at Scottsdale.Obituary (1943, April 20). North-Eastern Advertiser (Scottsdale, Tas. : 1909 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved March 27, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151473360