Sergey Mikhailovich Somov, born in 1853 and died in 1924, was born in the estate of the village of Gubarevo. He acquired the estate of Ternovoe in the late 1880s when Gubarevo passed to his brother Peter by inheritance. Under the guidance of the Somov family, known for their high aesthetic tastes, Ternovoe became a true cultural center.

Sergey Mikhailovich graduated from the Imperial School of Jurisprudence and began working as a junior secretary of the Holy Synod in 1875. In 1878, he was awarded the title of chamber junker of His Imperial Majesty's Court. A few years later, he returned to his homeland and became the owner of the Ternovoe estate. In 1894, the nobility of the Nizhnedvitsky district, where the Somov family estates were located, elected him as the district leader. From January 5, 1895, to December 21, 1897, he held the position of provincial leader of the nobility. At the same time, he continued to maintain ties with the capital, was a member of the economic council of the Synod, and received the title of chamberlain.

In 1881, 27-year-old Sergey Mikhailovich married 19-year-old Vera Alexandrovna Rodionova in St. Petersburg. The couple complemented each other well in cultural interests, especially after moving to the Voronezh province. They chose Ternovoe for its beautiful church and picturesque gorges. Vera Alexandrovna was passionate about the visual arts and exhibited her works, including views of Ternovoe. She was an advocate of old Russian architecture, which contributed to the preservation of the unique appearance of the estate. In 1896 and 1900, Vera Alexandrovna headed the "Voronezh Circle of Lovers of Drawing," actively influencing local artistic life. Under her leadership, the circle and the free drawing school flourished. She organized exhibitions and balls for the benefit of the school and sought support from the Academy of Arts for young artists. Vera Alexandrovna painted icons for the home church of the Alexandrinsky Children's Orphanage. Among the cultural treasures of the estate was her painting "The Wing in the Somov Estate near the Village of Ternovoe," lost during the Great Patriotic War.

Sergey Mikhailovich was known as a patron of local musicians. In 1895, he revived the Voronezh branch of the Imperial Russian Musical Society and became its chairman. It was likely during this time that the Somovs began organizing a peasant choir, selecting singers from Ternovoe and Gubarevo.

In the early 20th century, Sergey Mikhailovich advanced in his career, joining the Ministry of Internal Affairs and moving to St. Petersburg. In 1914, he became the provincial leader of the nobility in Petrograd, and in 1917, a member of the State Council. However, he did not forget Veduga and often visited Ternovoe and Voronezh. Before the revolution, he headed the local musical society, financing its activities.

A frequent guest at Ternovoe was Sergey Mikhailovich's uncle, Afanasy Nikolaevich, a senator. In 1892, he became the godfather of one of the Somov daughters, Varvara, in the Ternovoe Epiphany Church.

In 1898, Vera Alexandrovna became one of the first landowners in Voronezh to organize a nursery for peasant children. The Somovs managed with a minimal number of servants, having only nine in 1900.

The October Revolution forced the family to emigrate. Sergey Mikhailovich died in Munich and was buried in Rome. The descendants of Nechayevs and Somovs settled in France, where their graves were discovered by historian A.N. Akinshin. For example, Varvara Somova, daughter of Sergey Mikhailovich, died in Paris in 1953, and her brother Sergey in 1976.