The Somers' of Northern Illinois

The Somers Family tree also includes the surnames of Hayenga, Bruns, Schier, Groen, Alderks, Sturges, Alcock, Hinrichs, Gigous, and Stout. Side 'branches' are numerous with the extensive marriages listed. Most of the ancestors came from the England and the Germanic areas.
I've traced the Hamlin/Somers family migration from England, to MA, to CT, to NY, to Ontario and then finally to Lynnville, IL. Interestingly enough, the Hinrichs and Stouts also came from the same area in NY at one point or another. Part of the Stout family lived for a time in PA and OH, before landing in IL.
The Hayenga and Bruns families came directly from Ostfriesland, Germany, to IL about 30 or 40 years after the Somers families, in the early 1880's. Considering the county wasn't settled until the 1830's and 1840's, both sides of the family tree have been here quite awhile.

GEDCOM Trees (viewing trees requires 4.0 or later)

• Hayenga and Somers Families (1678 KB)
  4000 plus names of our ancestors and descendants

Family Photos

• Harm, Marie and Anne Hayenga (48 KB)
  children of Ella and Menno Hayenga
• Nellie and Ethel Alcock (51 KB)
  two daughters of John Alcock
• Ernestine, Lucas and Ida Hayenga (58 KB)
  children of Johanna Miller and Menno Hayenga
• Blossom Myra Sturges (45 KB)
  wife of Will Ryerson Somers
• Ella Praetz Hayenga (31 KB)
  "Aunt Ella" to many people, our grandmother
• Daniel Stout (77 KB)
  Daniel Stout, born in Gettysburg, Pa.
• Augustus Sturges Family (55 KB)
  from Neehan Wisconsin
• Ralph and Nellie Somers (40 KB)
  wedding photo
• Our Family (76 KB)
  The family name will continue on with our three sons.
• Ruth Naomi Burkhart and Lewis Sturges (59 KB)
  Parents of Blossom and Lewis H Sturges
• Somers Family about 1930 (48 KB)
  photo taken at the homestead farm
• Will R., Ralph and Blossom Somers (42 KB)
  family photo
• Warner Heye and Grace Groen Bruns (80 KB)
  Little Opa and Ocha
• Anna Schier and Meene Bruns (91 KB)
  Ocha and Opa Bruns