Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885 Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL

Transcribed by: Becky Jones

Page 384

Edward Somers, farmer, section 27, Portland Township, cultivating the Youngs farm, which comprises 197 acres, is a son of Frank and Mary (Baker) Somers, and was born July 25, 1846, in Portland Township, this county. His father, a farmer, was a native of Pennsylvania. His parents came to this western country in 1836, and were therefore among the earliest settlers here. His mother died when he was very young, and his father again married, and now resides in Kansas. Of the four children of his mother three are living, namely: Sarah, who is the wife of Edward Ott, a farmer in Kansas; Peter, a farmer.

The subject of this sketch is the oldest of the children, and remained at his parental home until he was 18 years of age, when he was employed by the month, and then took a rented farm, which he cultivated for a time.

In 1882 he bought a farm of 120 acres in Portland Township, kept it a year, and then sold and rented his present farm of 197 acres. He was married in Loraine Township, Henry Co., Ill., May 5, 1867, to Miss Nancy Bollen, daughter of Thomas and Lydia Bollen. She was born in that township in August, 1850. The have seven children: Cora, Frederick, Frank, John, Bernard, Lutitia and Hattie.