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Somerville TN - The nucleus of settlement was begun in the
middle of the county and it was named Somerville in honor of
Lt Robert Somerville, who fought in the War of 1812 and was
killed in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. Memphis was six
years old at this time and LaGrange, a small village which
took its name fro LaFayette's home in France, had become the
home of a number of families of wealth and refinement.
Among the first property owners in Somerville were Jim Brown
and George Bowers. The records show that Dr. Josiah
Higgason, who came to Somerville from Hanover County,
Virginia, and married Amy Elizabeth Cocke, daughter of Thomas
Jones Cooke, bought for $50, on January 14, 1829, "a certain
lot of ground in the town of Somerville". The old
Higgason home, more than 100 years old, still stands on Main
Street and is occupied by Dr. Higgason's great-granddaughter.
On July 23, 1831, George Bowers deeded to "the Commissioners
of the Female Academy, William S. Gray, Benjamin F. Gray, John
C. Cooper, Albert G. Hunter, John Brown, Michael Cody, Thomas
C. Hudson, Isaac B. McClellan, Robert A. Parker, Bennett H.
Henderson, and Washington L. Hannum, and their successors
forever in trust (nevertheless,) for the use and benefit of a
Female Seminary, and for no other use, interest, or purpose
whatever (a piece of land) $50."
Thus, before the town was chartered a school for higher
education was established, and for 70 years the Somerville
Female Institute flourished. Until the end of the
nineteenth century, the original purpose of the commissioners
was carried out. But with the coming of the new century,
the "Institute" and the "male Academy" were converted into a
public school, under the name of the Fayette County High
School.
In the Interim, churches had been established in the little
settlement and practically the same grounds on which they now
stand. Presbyterian (1852), Methodist, Episcopal, and
Baptist churches were erected. The name given the
Methodist Church when it was first established was Green Coe
Chapel, in honor of the young lieutenant from Somerville who
lost his life during the Mexican War.
By 1835, Somerville and her sister village, LaGrange, had
proved that their venture at settlement was permanent, and
applied to the State legislature for charters. On
January 5, 1836, the LaGrange charter was signed by Ephraim
Foster, speaker of the House of Representatives, and signed by
Jonathan Webster, speaker of the Senate, and on May 11, 1836,
it was sworn to before Luke Lea, Secretary of State, at
Nashville. In that same month the following "Act to
incorporate the town of Somerville" was passed:
| "Be it enacted by the
General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, that the town
of Somerville, in the county of Fayette, be and the same
is hereby incorporated with the same powers, rights, and
privileges in all respects as the town of LaGrange, except
so far as the same are local in their character, be held
applicable to the said town of Somerville." |
| Population:
2800 |
Mayor:
Bob Morris |
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City Hall:
One block North of the Fayette
County Court House on North Mail Street.
13085 N. Mail Street
Somerville TN 38068
901.465.9500 Fax:
901.465.7320
E-Mail: somervilletow486@at. net |
Aldermen:
Vice-Mayor Land Middlecoff
Mike White
John David Douglas
Alton Feathers
Ronnie Neill
Sandra Myers
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Mailing
Address: P.O. Box 909
Somerville TN 38068 |
City
Recorder/Administrator: Eddie Yaun |
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| Location:
Located near the center of the county, 64 Highway passes
in front of the County Courthouse |
Public
Works Supervisor: Tommy Harris
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| Police
Chief: Kenny Feathers |
Utilities
Manager: Robert L. Glover |
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Police
Department: 15 Officers
901.465.7307 |
Fire Chief:
Kel Blanton |
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