William D. Somers (1812-1901)
William D. Somers was born in North Carolina in 1812. As a boy, he was recruited by Major Joe Williams and taken to Champaign County to assist at the clerk's office. Major Williams had a library, which Somers cites as the originator of his fondness for reading. Somers found an excellent education in the county through this love of reading. He was appointed Justice of the Peace of the county by the legislature. He then passed exams to practice medicine, like his brother Dr. Winston Somers.
On October 14, 1843, he married Catherine P. Carson. Three years later, he began to study law. In November 1846, he was awarded a license to practice law, becoming Champaign County's first resident lawyer. He was the attorney for the Illinois Central Railroad Company, a significant economic force in the city. As a lawyer, he was involved in county matters, writing the proposal for the Urbana and Champaign Institute to become the state's agricultural college.
He was the supervisor of Urbana during the Civil War, taking care of families left behind by men joining the fight.
