Biography of John M. Somers, pages 935 / 936. History of De Kalb County, Indiana. Inter-State Publishing Company, Chicago, 1885. John M. Somers, attorney at law, of the firm Somers & Roby, Waterloo, is a native of Steuben County, Ind., born Dec. 13, 1851, a son of John Y. and Betty (Pearson) Somers. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and in 1845 settled in Steuben County where he died in 1854. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was wounded at New Orleans. This mother is living in Steuben County. After his father’s death John M. lived with his guardian, Dennis Hamlin. When eleven years of age he entered the office of the Waterloo City Press, and with the exception of teaching two terms of school in Illinois, remained there till twenty-three years of age. While in the office he began the study of law. He had access to Judge McBride’s library and devoted his evenings to reading. He after ward was in the office of James I. Best, one of the Supreme Court Commissioners and one of the leading attorneys of the State, two years, and while there was admitted to the bar. June 4, 1880, he commenced practice in Waterloo. He is a close student, and has been a successful practitioner, and promises to be one of the brightest lights of the profession. He is the City attorney of Waterloo, and has held the office of Town Clerk, March 2, 1880, he was married to Laura N. Chamberlain, a daughter of J.N. Chamberlain, M.D. She died Aug. 27, 1884. Mr. Somers is a member of Waterloo Lodge, No. 221, I.O.O.F., and is Noble Grand of his lodge. Submitted by: Arlene Goodwin Auburn, Indiana Agoodwin@ctlnet.com