Daniel E. Somes

Daniel E. Somes
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maine's 1st district
In office March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861
Preceded by	John M. Wood
Succeeded by	John N. Goodwin
1st Mayor of Biddeford, Maine
In office 1855–1857
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	James Andress
Personal details
Born	May 20, 1815 Meredith, New Hampshire
Died	February 13, 1888 (aged 72)
Resting place	Rock Creek Cemetery

Daniel E. Somes (May 20, 1815 – February 13, 1888) was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in Meredith, New Hampshire (now Laconia) on May 20, 1815. He received an academic education, then moved to Biddeford, Maine, in 1846. He established the Eastern Journal, later known as the Union and Journal.

He engaged in the manufacture of loom harnesses, reed twine, and varnishes.

Somes was elected the first Mayor of Biddeford 1855–1857.^[1] Somes was president of the City Bank of Biddeford 1856–1858, and elected as a Republican to the Thirty-sixth Congress (March 4, 1859 – March 3, 1861). He was a member of the Peace Convention of 1861 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 and Mrs. Lincoln attended the seances.

Somes engaged in the practice of patent law until his death in that city on February 13, 1888. His interment was in Rock Creek Cemetery.

References

• Daniel E. Somes at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

1. ↑ Clayton, W. Woodford (1880), History of York County, Maine: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent men and Pioneers, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Everts and Peck, p. 197.