JAMES KINNOCK SOMERS (Robert, William)
“The first “Presbyterian” church officers were H.G. Fetter, James K. Somers, S.A. Gutherie and Mrs. Mary McAllister…Moorcroft was incorporated on October 2nd 1906 with…councilmen W.K. Somers…W.K. Somers was the town’s first lawyer, and later a U.S. Commissioner.
James Kinnock Somers was born in 1838 in Scotland – he was a clerk in a Power Loom Factory. He married Elizabeth Kinnock in 1864 and they had 2 children, both born in Scotland. Their son William as the first of the family to come to America – a few years later James & Elizabeth came with their son and built the Somers Hotel about 1901. James was at one time postmaster at Moorcroft and an officer in the Presbyterian church. Elizabeth was “called to the Great Beyond in 1904 and was the first woman buried in the new cemetery here,” according to the Moorcroft Democrat.
William Kinnock Somers came to America about the age of nineteen. Before coming to Wyoming he worked with a trail herd from Texas to Montana, for the 101 Ranch. He worked for the 101 Ranch in Montana and taught school in Ridge, Montana. He came to Moorcroft about 1901 and started a surveying crew. While on the cattle trail, teaching and surveying, he bought books and studied law. After passing the law exam he opened an office in Moorcroft, continuing to survey on the side. About 1907 he homesteaded eight miles north of Moorcroft on Miller Creek near the D Road. He married Mary Alice Ware in 1902 and they had five children – James, Geoffery, Frederick, Ethel, Harriet. William Somers was the first U.S. Commissioner when Moorcfot was incorporated in 1906. He was the first lawyer in Moorcroft, a council man and also served as Justice of the Peace. The first marriage he performed as Justice of the Peace was for Frank Watt & Catherine Oelkers (story at Watts grave).
Robert Somers came to America with his parents about 1894. He taught school in North Platte, Nebraska and later at Ridge, Montana. He moved to Moorcroft about 1901 and with his parents built the Somers Hotel – that building burned to the ground in the early 1950s. He was a compassionate and patriotic person – served as Justice of the Peace for several years – during World War One he met each troop train going thru with baskets of fruit, candy and cigarettes. He married Margaret McGavin in 1865 – they were married by the Reverend Westover of Newcastle in a Pullman Car between Upton and Newcastle, as the groom had obtained the marriage license in Weston County. Maggie McGavin Somers was a nurse, educated in Edinburg, Scotland. She worked with many doctors in Moorcroft and Gillette and at one time operated a hospital in Gillette and in rooms of the Somers Hotel. She helped deliver over one hundred babies in her lifetime at Moorcroft and Gillette, many without the attendance of a doctor and in the homes of the parents.
“The first “Presbyterian” church officers were H.G. Fetter, James K. Somers, S.A. Gutherie and Mrs. Mary McAllister…Moorcroft was incorporated on October 2nd 1906 with…councilmen W.K. Somers…W.K. Somers was the town’s first lawyer, and later a U.S. Commissioner.
James Kinnock Somers was born in 1838 in Scotland – he was a clerk in a Power Loom Factory. He married Elizabeth Kinnock in 1864 and they had 2 children, both born in Scotland. Their son William as the first of the family to come to America – a few years later James & Elizabeth came with their son and built the Somers Hotel about 1901. James was at one time postmaster at Moorcroft and an officer in the Presbyterian church. Elizabeth was “called to the Great Beyond in 1904 and was the first woman buried in the new cemetery here,” according to the Moorcroft Democrat.
William Kinnock Somers came to America about the age of nineteen. Before coming to Wyoming he worked with a trail herd from Texas to Montana, for the 101 Ranch. He worked for the 101 Ranch in Montana and taught school in Ridge, Montana. He came to Moorcroft about 1901 and started a surveying crew. While on the cattle trail, teaching and surveying, he bought books and studied law. After passing the law exam he opened an office in Moorcroft, continuing to survey on the side. About 1907 he homesteaded eight miles north of Moorcroft on Miller Creek near the D Road. He married Mary Alice Ware in 1902 and they had five children – James, Geoffery, Frederick, Ethel, Harriet. William Somers was the first U.S. Commissioner when Moorcfot was incorporated in 1906. He was the first lawyer in Moorcroft, a council man and also served as Justice of the Peace. The first marriage he performed as Justice of the Peace was for Frank Watt & Catherine Oelkers (story at Watts grave).
Robert Somers came to America with his parents about 1894. He taught school in North Platte, Nebraska and later at Ridge, Montana. He moved to Moorcroft about 1901 and with his parents built the Somers Hotel – that building burned to the ground in the early 1950s. He was a compassionate and patriotic person – served as Justice of the Peace for several years – during World War One he met each troop train going thru with baskets of fruit, candy and cigarettes. He married Margaret McGavin in 1865 – they were married by the Reverend Westover of Newcastle in a Pullman Car between Upton and Newcastle, as the groom had obtained the marriage license in Weston County. Maggie McGavin Somers was a nurse, educated in Edinburg, Scotland. She worked with many doctors in Moorcroft and Gillette and at one time operated a hospital in Gillette and in rooms of the Somers Hotel. She helped deliver over one hundred babies in her lifetime at Moorcroft and Gillette, many without the attendance of a doctor and in the homes of the parents.