Gerrit H. Albers Gerrit H. Albers, attorney at law, of Grand Rapids, Kent county, Mich., was born in Overisel, Allegan county, Mich., April 9, 1868, a son of John H. and Dena (Veldhuis) Albers. John H. Albers was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1841, a son of Henry J. Albers, a stock buyer, who brought his family to the United States, in 1854, and settled in Holland, Mich., where he passed the remainder of his days. John H. remained with his parents until about fourteen years of age and worked out as a farm laborer until 1866, when he married, in Allegan county, the result being fifteen children, of whom thirteen are still living, viz: Gerrit H., whose name opens this sketch; Fannie, wife of Herman Hulsman, of Allegan county; Henry J., in Overisel; Zena, wife of Benjamin Hoffman, of Ottawa county; Henrietta, at home; Mannes, a student in Grand Rapids; George, a student at Hope college; and Edward, Martin, Frank, Alice, Dora and Benjamin, at home. The father of this family is a well to do farmer, is a republican in politics, and he and wife are consistent members of the Reformed church. Gerrit H. Albers lived with his parents and attended school until sixteen years of age, and then entered Hope college at Holland, Mich., from which he graduated in 1891, with the degree of A.B. He next entered the law office of Fitzgerald & Barry, in Grand Rapids, studied under them during vacation, and then went to the law department of the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, studied two years, and graduated June 30, 1893, with the degree of LL. B. He passed the following summer in collecting, and opened his office October 1, 1893, over the City National Bank, where he conducted quite a lucrative practice until January 1, 1895, when he assumed the duties of circuit court commissioner, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1894, and re-elected in the fall of 1896 by the republican party. The marriage of Mr. Albers took place at Helena Station, Mason county, Ky., June 5, 1895, when he made Miss Mary W. Clay his bride. This lady was born in Paris, Ky., May 1, 1871, and is a daughter of Isaac C. and Elizabeth (Forman) Clay, of the same family as that of Kentucky’s famous statesman, Henry Clay. This felicitous union has been blessed with one little boy, James Mitchell, born August 30, 1898, This little family live in their own cozy little home at No. 93 Clinton street, where they extend a cordial hospitality to a large circle of warm hearted friends. Mr. Albers is very popular with the republican party as well as with the public, and his fraternal society connection is something beyond the common run. He is a member of York lodge, No. 410, F.&A.M.; Columbian chapter, R.A.M., at Grand Rapids; Eureka lodge, K. of P.; the Modern Woodmen, Batavia camp; the Knickerbocker society; the Holland Aid society; the Grand Rapids Whist club; the Lincoln club; the Lakeside club and the Young Men’s republican club. Since January 1, 1899, at the expiration of his term of office, Mr. Albers opened an office at Nos.204 & 205 in the Houseman building, and is now doing a lucrative business.