Hi, Were you able to find the SOMES family in 1860 Lee Co., IL.? I tried everything I could think of and couldn't find them. I never found Henry and Matilda together anywhere. I tried to follow the oldest sons to see where they went. I did find Sherman SOMES b. 1863, Died 1892, buried in Leon cemetery, Leon, Center Twp., Decatur County, Iowa.
George Somes 21, clerk in grain, IL/NY/IL. on the 1880 census for Walnut, Pottawattamie Co., Iowa, listed next to a James SOMES 45, grain dealer, NY/NY/NY. I wonder if he could have been a brother to Henry and the same James mentioned in the Lee Co. newspaper index.

Is that your George F. Somes age 35, b. IL. on the 1895 Woodbury Co., Iowa census with Josephine B. age 29 & children?

Elmore (Elmer) SOMES 33, IL., in Shaeffer's Addition, Leon, Decatur Co., Iowa, Leon Town in 1885; Jenny 22, Pearly age 2 born in Decatur, then in Pueblo, Colorado 1900.

The marriage for Henry C. Somes and Matilda McGaw between 1839 and 1873 is just approximate. The actual date could have been anywhere in-between those dates. That's just the way they list them.

Elsie