Our Somers Family Heritage

Photo is from the private collection of Ralph Womack, a great grandson. Great Grandmother Cotna (Coatney) was married to Francis Henry Somers, my Great Grandfather who was known as a "circuit rider" or traveling evangelist. *Re: Native Ancestry - I have almost ruled out Great Grandmother Coatney Cole, Harris, Tidwell, Somers, Bonn as having any Native American DNA as some of her descendants from the Tidwell marriage have contacted Dad via 23andMe and they have no NA DNA. However, some of those with direct bloodlines to Great Grandfather Francis Henry Somers appear to have a trace of Native American DNA. Please also take note that it is more likely Native American DNA will show up from the mother's DNA than from the father's ancestry.

Jesse (Jay) Somers - Early to mid 1950's. People often talk about standing for righteousness, but here is a story of my father literally taking a seat for what is right and good. Dad entered the Air Force in March of 1953 at the young age of 17 years. He tells the story of how hard it was for him to find work in his hometown of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, at the time. Prospective employers would tell him that they feared he would be drafted to serve in the Korean War when he turned 18 in July. So, Dad decided to join the Air Force instead of waiting for the draft. Dad was soon sent to a facility in Texas via a public bus. He remembers finding a seat in the very back and proceeded to relax and catch up on his sleep. Dad remembers crossing into Arkansas where public transportation was segregated. He tells of hearing the bus driver announce that all blacks were to move to the back of the bus. Dad stayed in his seat and the driver singled him out and ordered him to the front. Wel...

Larry Freeman Buhler was the 5th child and 3rd son of Clarence and Daisy (Somers) Buhler ; and the husband of Linda (Davis) Buhler. Larry was tragically killed in a car accident in July of 1996 at the young age of 42 years. Linda and Larry Buhler - 1985 Larry is remembered as being a gentleman with a kind heart and a noble spirit. Larry was also an outdoors man and his wife Linda shared these photos of him taken after squirrel hunting. Our Grandpa Somers was also an avid squirrel hunter and I have memories of him rising early to hunt when I was a child visiting. May the good Lord bless Larry's memory. In Lord Jesus Name, I pray, amen. Source: Find-a-Grave

Carl "Joey" Buhler  (April 1, 1956 - March 1, 1996) Carl Joey Buhler was the youngest child of Clarence and Daisy (Somers) Buhler. Clarence and Daisy Buhler's Children - Left to right: Jimmie, Henry, Clarence Everett, Paulette, Larry and Joey  I have fond memories of Joey as we were close in age, and frankly, he was quite unforgettable.  I remember him as fearless and full of adventure - he was cute and he knew it. Joey was a terrible flirt with the girls - which was part of his charm. He had a sweet enduring quality that I still remember to this day. I also remember that as young teens he wrote me a couple of love letters which my mother intercepted. She chalked it up to "puppy love," but she also kept her antennae up when it came to her nephew and daughter. Joey and Darla Buhler Joey eventually met a beautiful young woman, Darla, whom he fell head over heels in love with and married. They had one child together - a daughter, Malisa. ...

As recorded in the Somers Family Bible by Lillian (Weaver) Somers: Daisy Ellen was the third child of William Henry and Lillian Mae Somers, preceded by Cotna Lenoa  (10.18.1920 - 11.17.1920) and Mamie Irene (10.30.1921 - 2.14.2011). Clarence and Daisy Buhler Daisy Somers married Clarence Buhler on August 31, 1940. They had 7 children: Elsie Mae, Clarence, Jimmy, Paulette, Larry, Henry and Joey. Daisy Ellen went to be with the Lord on November 14, 1987 at 64 years of age. She was much loved by her family and is remembered as a godly woman and devout Christian. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that fearet...

William Henry and Lillian Mae Somers oldest son "June" William H. Somers Jr. BIRTH: 22 Mar 1925 DEATH: 31 Jan 1969 William Sr. was a WWI veteran and his son William Jr served during WWII. William Henry Somers Sr . (Find a Grave) William Henry Somers Jr.  (Find a Grave)

Beloved Cousin  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121978365/sherilyn-g-weiler Sheri is the only child of Joyce and Harvey (Buzzy) Somers .  She was born June 24, 1958 and passed away on April 20, 2000. Sheri was married to Steve Weiler and they had one daughter, Christy. She is missed and loved by many.  Sheri had a love for adventure and life. I will always remember her beautiful brown eyes lighting up with laughter and joy when we played together as children.  I also remember sharing my Christian testimony with her a few years before her death and how she railed at me for becoming a Christian. Then when she became very ill with kidney failure due to Type I Diabetes, she graciously reassured me that she had made her peace with the Lord Jesus Christ and everything was "all right."  Sheri knew her health was failing and showed no fear of death. She had a true, saving faith and I look forward to our reunion in Heaven at the feet of ...

Left to right: Mamie Somers Shepherd, Lillian Mae Weaver Somers (mother), Daisy Somers Buhler, and Minnie Lorene Somers Pickard

This is our petite, but feisty Great Grandmother Maggie Leona (Wright) Weaver with Great Grandfather William Izear Weaver. He could very well be our "Blackfoot" connection - he looks native! Family folklore is he was such a good ball player that he was recruited to play professional baseball, but Great Grandmother wasn't going to have him off traveling the country while she farmed alone, so he wisely chose to stay in Arkansas with the lovely Maggie. Find a Grave Memorials: William Izear Weaver Maggie Lenoa Wright Weaver

Piedmont Trails has received a huge amount of questions and queries concerning free genealogy techniques. Due to the overwhelming response, Piedmont Trails made the decision to dedicate a blog segment covering the subject. This article will focus on the advantages and the “know-how” of researching without a paid subscription or any type of membership fee attached. Subscription fees can add up very quickly when it pertains to genealogy. Some companies charge as much as $400.00 yearly to acquire genealogy records and separate fees for DNA testing results. Family lineage software varies as well from $25.00 up to over $200.00 depending on the size and the capabilities of the software. You have to ask yourself, are the fees really worth it? Genealogy research is so much more than researching online references. It involves an adventure, an expedition, a journey that you may be totally missing. Continue reading here... Editor's Note: Please see also Piedmont Trails North Ca...

Willliam Henry Somers WWI US Army Photo

This photo was taken shortly before Great Grandmother's death estimated to be in the late 1930's or early 1940's. My father, Jesse C. Somers, was born in 1935 and remembers his grandmother living with them before her death.

Son of William Henry and Lillian Mae Somers. Taken from Jesse Somers private family photo collection. Wm. Henry Somers Sr. with son Clyde Freeman Somers Image Source: Find A Grave Memorial BIRTH  6 Mar 1931 DEATH  4 May 1962 (aged 31) BURIAL Williams Cemetery Corning, Clay County, Arkansas, USA Source:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100169851/clyde-freeman-somers Spouse: Beatrice Brown Somers Married  October 19, 1956 BIRTH  6 Aug 1932 DEATH  9 May 2007 (aged 74) BURIAL Williams Cemetery Corning, Clay County, Arkansas, USA Source:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19499292/beatrice-somers *As recorded in Lillian Somers Family Bible ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aunt Bea, Uncle Clyde and Bea's younger sister Geraldine Here's a cute story about Uncle Clyde and Aunt Bea as told to me by Wallace Somers: Before Aunt Bea and Uncle Clyde married she worked at a resta...

Great, Great Grandparents George and Nancy Wright Source: Great Grandson Jess Somers' collection of family photos. Wiki Family Tree Links: George Washington Wright Jr. (1857 - 1937) Nancy Elizabeth Jones (1860 - 1934) Somers Family Tree For additional information, please see: George Washington Wright Jr. (RootsWeb) Obituary for George Washington Wright Jr.: PIONEER PASSED AWAY HERE LAST WEDNESDAY - 30 Apr 1937 George W. Wright, aged 79, highly respected pioneer citizen of Clay Co., passed away here last Wednesday at 6:20 p.m., at the home of his daugher, Mrs. W. F. Barnes. Mr. Wright was born on 22 June 1857 near Paragould, and removed to Randolph county when he was two years of age. He had resided in Clay county during the past 35 years. His funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon by Rev. R. L. Powell and internment was made in Williams cemetery. Mr. Wright was devout christian & a member of the Methodist church. Surviving are six ...

David Brainerd was a trailblazer in taking the Gospel to the Native Americans. The Somers family can be forever grateful for our Native American ancestors who might have heard the "Good News" and been converted to Christianity, as we look forward to meeting them in Heaven someday. David Brainerd (April 20, 1718 – October 9, 1747) was an American missionary to the Native Americans who had a particularly fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey . During his short life he was beset by many difficulties. As a result, his biography has become a source of inspiration and encouragement to many Christians. Missionaries such as William Carey and Jim Elliot , and Brainerd's cousin, the Second Great Awakening evangelist James Brainerd Taylor (1801–1829) have been motivated by the ministry of David Brainerd. ( Wikipedia ) Link: https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=616030646 See also: HAVE YOU READ THE LETTERS OF DAVID BRAINERD? (Log ...

Battle of Moore's Creek Re-enactment - Piedmont Trails The Trail of Liberty & Independence Posted at Piedmont Trails: The normal teachings of this period discusses the forefathers and their actions that proclaimed separation from England, but in truth, it was widely known to many settlers and pioneers of North Carolina that religious beliefs would not allow a king to overpower their livelihood and progress. Families would worship one king and that was Jesus Christ. This was the ultimate division between the colony of North Carolina and England. This allowed Christians to stand up and fight the first battle of the Revolution in Alamance, NC in 1771. ... If we visited the homes of our ancestor’s in the wake of the American Revolutionary War, we would hear the words, liberty and independence quite often. The settlers living in North Carolina were all seeking one important common denominator, and that was prosperity. In order to achieve this, one must be free of obstacl...

Here's another article from the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources regarding the Christian missionary work among the native people of North Carolina: On January 21, 1881, the elders of three churches met at Burnt Swamp Baptist Church in Robeson County to form what became the Burnt Swamp Association. The formation of the group solidified what had been a strong, informal relationship. Burnt Swamp Baptist was founded in 1877 by 20 Lumbee Indians. They received encouragement from two local white churches, Raft Swamp and Clyburn Baptist. Prior to Burnt Swamp’s organization, impromptu religious meetings and revivals had been held for two decades, but no organized religion was available to the community. At their 1885 meeting, members resolved to adopt Burnt Swamp Indian Association of the Croatan Indians as their official name, the first in a series of name changes over the years. After years of struggling to gain acceptance, the Association was admitted to the B...

Church emblem featuring the Agnus Dei . Stained glass at the Rights Chapel of Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina , United States  ( Wikipedia ) Posted at the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources : On December 27, 1752 , the survey for a Moravian settlement began in what is now Clemmons. Bishop August Spangenberg led the frontier expedition that selected the land that became known as the Wachovia tract. The original survey contained only about 73,000 acres, so five additional parcels were surveyed, bringing the total to 98,985 acres. Spangenberg judged the tract to be about 50 percent good land, 25 percent medium and 25 percent poor. He was enthusiastic, however, about the numerous springs and creeks and the promise of potential sites for mills. He was satisfied that they had identified “the best land yet vacant” in the colony. A settlement in North Carolina offered Moravians the prospect of serving their neighbors, establi...

Cherokee Supreme Court Museum - Image source:  http://nativenewsonline.net/ I found this informative article posted at the Cherokee Phoenix yesterday which tells of an exhibit honoring the Christian work of the Moravian missionaries among the Cherokee people: Cherokee Christmas exhibit opens Dec. 8 BY STAFF REPORTS 12/06/2017 12:00 PM TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Experience the first Cherokee Christmas through a holiday exhibit at the Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum. Cherokee Christmas shares the story of how Moravian missionaries brought holiday celebrations to the Cherokee people in 1805. The exhibit features information about how traditions began and displays decorations similar to what was used at the Vann’s Georgia home during the first Cherokee Christmas. The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum is at 122 E. Keetoowah St. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Originally built in 1844, it is Oklahoma’s oldest public building. The 1,950-...

Osiyo. Today, Saturday, November 4, 2017, we commemorate a Cherokee Nation Day of Prayer. This special day is acknowledged jointly with our brothers and sisters from the Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole tribes. Prayers have always been an important part of our culture and our society as Cherokee people. That holds true for our traditional spiritualists and our Christian leaders. It’s why we start every meeting, every gathering of our people with a blessing and prayer. Let us never underestimate the value God gives our prayers and offerings. I truly believe the more we pray, the happier we are. And we have greater peace of mind and heart. Prayers strengthen our families, our communities and our tribe. Please remember that Saturday is the Cherokee Nation Day of Prayer. I encourage you to take a moment that day and every day to yourself, and pray to our Creator. May God continue to bless the Cherokee Nation and may God bless you and your loved ones. Wado. Principal Chief Bill Joh...