Name/Title
Surveyor's TransitEntry/Object ID
2012.01.02Description
Wooden transit legs with brass instruments at top. Telescope, vernier circle and knobs and bases are brass. Instrument bolts to 3 legs with large wing nuts. Transit has box (case) that with note saying "Harold Somerville, surveyor, Sandyville, WV" and also a metal tag that says, L.R. Smith & Sons from Charleston, WV. The legs of the transit appear to be oak stained dark. Wooden box has leather strap with metal buckle.
"Surveyor's Transit by W. & L. E. Gurley, Troy, New York, No. 13289, gunmetal and brass finish, 8 1/4 in. telescope with rack focus, 4 1/2-inch dia. silvered compass dial signed by maker and numbered, cardinal points in block letters, needle dial calibrated 0-90 in four quadrants, blued steel hand, dual spirit levels, vernier read out and geared adjustment, brass leveling screws for tripod attachment, in a wooden carrying case "
Gary Davis grandson of Harold Somervile
Harold 1895-1973, m. 1917
1920 farmer
1930, 1940 rural free delivery mail carrier
possibly taught at beattysville school grant district and emma school (1914) grand district
no record of harold being a surveyor, but his grandfather john (1830-1906) was constable and surveyor for north-east jco according to volume 2 of his memoirs.\
"albert o davis and john somerville, brother to dave and johnathan somerville and others, were surveyors." somerville vol 2, p 57
"in early life, john somerville acruired a large acreage of land after he moved to brushy fork. he was a surveyor of lands for many years. in theh 1870s and 1880s, he was constable for squire currey." somerville memoirs, vol 1 p 132.
somerville served in the union army, was only called for duty to chase general morgan and his men crossing the river at ravenswood.
john somerville was brother to david somerville, who founded the victoria hotel in ravenswood.Acquisition
Accession
2012.01Source or Donor
Gary Davis