G. BURWELL, M. D., of Byron Center, Kent county, Mich., so well l and favorably known in the ranks of the medical profession of Grand Rapids and the county of Kent, as well as to the public at large, as an experienced and skillful practitioner of his profession, was born in the province of Ontario, dominion of Canada, near Port Talbot, November 12, 1859, and is the eldest of eight children-two sons and six daughters-that were born to Edward and Matilda (Walter) Burwell, of which children six are yet living. Edward Burwell, the father of Dr. Burwell, was also born in the same part of Canada in which the doctor was born, is a son of Col. Mahlon Burwell, received a liberal education, was reared to agriculture, and is now living in retirement in the city of London, Canada. Col. Burwell was a Canadian officer in the British army, traced his descent to Sir Jeffrey Burwell, did much of the engineering in the western part of Canada and the streets of London, and was quite prominent in military and social circles. Mrs. Matilda Burwell, the mother of the doctor, was born about 1834, in Somersetshire, England, and now resides with her husband in Ontario, Canada. Dr. A. G. Burwell was reared in his native province until maturity, receiving his early education in the common schools, following which he took a classical course in the Hellmuth college, from which he graduated with the class of 1878 in the literary course purely. He then assumed the responsible position of cashier and bookkeeper of the Shedden company at London, held the position about eighteen months, and then, with his brother, went on a prospecting tour through the west part of the United States, taking in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, after which trip the two returned to Canada. He there began the study of medicine, attended lectures at London in the fall of I886, next entered the Detroit (Mich.) college of medicine, studied two years, and graduated with the class of I889. He began the active practice of his profession in Byron Center immediately afterward, and with a success that has proven to be as remunerative to himself as it has been satisfactory to his patients. The medical fraternity, so essential as a factor in the well being and happiness of every community, has no more able a member in Kent county, outside of the city of Grand Rapids, than Dr. Burwell, and his affable and cordial disposition aids materially the curative property of his prescribed medical preparation when he makes his appearance in the chamber of the afflicted, and this amiable quality is no doubt an element of his success. The doctor keeps well posted in the advances made in the science of medicine and well abreast of its progress, being a member of the Grand River Valley Medical association, the Michigan State Medical society and the American Medical association-all designed for the diffusion of medical knowledge and the protection of their members in actual practice. He is also a member of the International congress, which assembles in Kent county, and of Halcyon lodge, No. 244, I. O. 0. F., at Byron Center. Dr. Burwell is also medical examiner for the Union Mutual Insurance company, of Portland, Me.; the New York Life Insurance company, of New York city; the Aetna, and for the L. O. T. M., and for the International congress and the Home Forum. The doctor has a well-filled library of standard medical works, subscribes to the best and most reliable of medical journals, and is thus enabled to fully keep up with the medical and surgical advances. Dr. Burwell was joined in marriage August 22, I893, with Miss Middle Towner, and this happy marriage has been blessed with three children, viz: Alice Gertrude, Mahlon Cassius and James Augustus. Mrs. Middie Burwell was born in Byron township, Kent county, Mich., June 15, I868, and is a daughter of S. S. and Cerelia L. (Blakeslee) Towner, of whom mention is made in the sketch of S. S. Towner, on another page. She was a student of the Grand Rapids high school, has taken special lessons in music, is a lady of most serene and amiable disposition, and is well fitted for a life-companion and helpmate to her accomplished husband. Her parents, pioneers of the township, still live in Byron Center. In politics Dr. Burwell is a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Benjamin Harrison. He is very popular with the party as well as with the public. In I895 he was elected to the responsible position of township treasurer, and so well and accurately did he fill the office the people found new reasons to place their confidence in his integrity and ability and re-elected him in I 896. Mrs. Dr. Burwell is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah branch of the I. O. O. F., of which she has been treasurer and is now vice grand, and she is also a member of the International congress and of the W. C. T. U., at Byron Center. The social position of the doctor and wife is with the best people of the village and township, and is all that could be desired.