Daniel Eton Somes (May 20, 1815 – February 13, 1888) was a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together the ...

from

Maine Maine () is a U.S. state, state in the New England and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and territories of Canad ...

Early life

Daniel Eton Somes was born in

Meredith, New Hampshire Meredith is a town in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,662 at the 2020 census. Meredith is situated in the state's Lakes Region and serves as a major resort town. Meredith Village, the commercial center of the ...

(now

Laconia Laconia or Lakonia ( el, Λακωνία, , ) is a historical and administrative region of Greece located on the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. Its administrative capital is Sparta. The word ''laconic''—to speak in a blunt, con ...

) on May 20, 1815. He received an academic education, then moved to

Biddeford, Maine Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco and Biddeford include the resort communities of Biddeford P ...

, in 1846. He established the ''Eastern Journal'', later known as the ''Union and Journal''.

Career

Somes engaged in the manufacture of loom harnesses, reed twine, and varnishes. Somes was elected the first Mayor of

Biddeford Biddeford is a city in York County, Maine, United States. It is the principal commercial center of York County. Its population was 22,552 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The twin cities of Saco, Maine, Saco and Biddeford include t ...

1855–1857. Somes was president of the City Bank of Biddeford 1856–1858, and elected as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or again ...

to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861). He was a member of the

Peace Convention of 1861 The Peace Conference of 1861 was a meeting of 131 leading American politicians in February 1861, at the Willard's Hotel in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the American Civil War. The purpose of the conference was to avoid, if possible, the seces ...

held in Washington, D.C., in an effort to devise means to prevent the impending war. Somes and his wife are mentioned in connection with the seances conducted and the home of Cranston Laurie, a leader of the Spiritualist movement in Washington during the war. According to others, he and his wife were present when both

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese f ...

and Mrs. Lincoln attended the seances. Somes engaged in the practice of

patent law A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention."A p ...

in Washington, D.C. until his death in that city on February 13, 1888. His interment was in

Rock Creek Cemetery Rock Creek Cemetery is an cemetery with a natural and rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE, in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, D.C., United States. It is across the stre ...

References

1815 births 1888 deaths People from Laconia, New Hampshire Mayors of Biddeford, Maine Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Maine 19th-century American politicians People from Meredith, New Hampshire Burials at Rock Creek Cemetery {{Maine-politician-stub