The Sommercamp Family

Within these stone walls lie the remains of two Sommercamp children, Frederick and Annie, and the patriarch of the family, William Franz Sommercamp. 

The Sommercamp family arrived in Silver City in 1864. William Franz was born in 1828 in Hanover Germany and emigrated to the US in 1847. He originally settled in Missouri, but moved to Albany Oregon and Shasta Valley California in 1852. He was an early placer miner around Ruby City and Florida Mountain. When the War Eagle mines closed, he helped destitute miners and their families. He had interests in cattle and horses and owned a ranch along with mining interests in the Potosi DeLamar mines. The 1880 Census showed his occupation, at age 52, as a brewer in Silver City, 

In 1871, 5 month old Frederick died, and in 1874, 18 month old Annie passed away. 

After a long life of usefulness, in which he had accumulated a fair fortune, Mr. Sommercamp met with a violent death on August 7, 1890. He was at his DeLamar mines, making some measurements near the St. Clair shaft, when he tripped and fell into the shaft. The shaft was not deep, but he evidently struck some timbers, and was dead when reached. His death, at age 62, was universally regretted, and the funeral, under the auspices of the Odd Fellows fraternity, was one of the largest ever held in the Owyhees. His wife, three sons, and one daughter moved to Weiser shortly after his death.