Somers was born in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin on April 12, 1850.[1] He grew up in the state of Wisconsin. He became a lawyer and moved to Milwaukee, where he soon became involved in politics. Somers served as city attorney for Milwaukee. In 1890, he was elected to the Milwaukee Common Council and served as president of the Milwaukee Common Council.
He continued practicing law in Milwaukee until 1905, when he moved to Reno, Nevada. He became a lawyer, judge for Esmeralda County, Nevada, and served for a time as chairman of the Nevada Democratic State Central Committee.