JACOB BURSMA, M. D., who has secured a fine reputation and attained high rank among the physicians and surgeons of Kent county, Mich., and more particularly at Sand Lake, his place of residence, was born in Chicago, Ill., Septernber I5, 1872, the third of the family of four sons and three daughters born to Rev. Ale and Elizabeth (DeHaan) Bursma, all of which family are still living with the exception of one daughter. Rev. A. Bursma was born in Holland in I841, and his wife in the same country in I847, and both came to America while still quite young. The father graduated from Hope college, Holland, Mich., in the classical course, and also from the theological department of the same college, and now resides in Grand' Rapids, where he has been pastor of the Fifth Reformed church since 1889.

Dr. J. Bursma was primarily educated in the public schools of Orange City, Iowa, and in 1884 became a student in the Northwestern Classical academy in the same city, where he finished the junior year. He then entered the Western college at Grand Rapids and graduated in the business course with the class of 1890; finished the freshman year at the West Michigan college and the sophomore and junior courses at Hope college, Mich., and then entered the State university of Iowa, from which he graduated in the classical course in 1897 and finished the junior year in the medical course; he then entered the college of Physicians & Surgeons at Chicago, Ill., and April 19, 1898, received his diploma with a class of 104 students. June I, 1898, he began the active practice of his profession at Sand Lake, and so gained upon the esteem and confidence of his patrons that his residence there has secured for him a remunerative practice. In his demeanor he is modest and unassuming, as becomes all well-educated individuals and ripe scholars such as he. His practice extends to the vicinity of Howard City in Montcalm county, and throughout Nelson, Solon and Spencer townships in Kent county, and is constantly increasing. He has his own laboratory and keeps on hand a stock of fresh drugs, so that he is prepared at any moment to answer a call, whether it be to the bedside of the poor and needy, or to that of the wealthy and opulent. He is of a genial and sympathetic disposition, such as inspires confidence and hope in the patient, and carries into the sick chamber the sunshine that revives the invalid as effectually as do drugs themselves. Fraternally, the doctor is a member of M. W. of A., camp No. 5681, at Sand Lake, also of K. 0. T. M., tent No. 442, and is examining surgeon of both organizations. He is a true Christian, is benevolent, and is ready at all times to assist the indigent or the afflicted, while his professional reputation is enhanced with the passing of each day of his professional capacity.