James M. DeKraker, M. D., a favorite and rising young physician and surgeon, whose office at No. 61 West Leonard street, Grand Rapids, is always attended to repletion by his numerous patients, was born in the Netherlands of the continent of Europe, August 27, 1865. Henry and Susan (Van Kerkvoort) DeKraker, parents of the doctor and six daughters, of which family the doctor was the sixth in order of birth, came to the United States in 1881 and at once located in Grand Rapids. Here the future young physician augmented the education he had acquired in his native land by attendance at the high school, which he left in his junior year to attend the College of Physicians Surgeons of Chicago, Ill. (the medical department of the university of Illinois), from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1894, and at once opened his present office in Grand Rapids for the practice of his profession, in which he has met with remarkable success. He is the happy possessor of a gold medal awarded him on graduation by the faculty of the college as a prize for having attained the highest standing in his class, and his merits have been so well recognized in Grand Rapids as to lead to his appointment to several professional positions-one being that of lecturer on diseases of the chest and of physical diagnoses at the Grand Rapids Medical college. He is an honored member of the Grand Rapids Medical & Surgical society and also of the Michigan State Medical society, in both of which his usefulness is fully appreciated.

Dr. DeKraker was united in marriage at Spring Arbor, Jackson county, Mich., with Miss Jennie May Omans, September 10, 1896. This accomplished lady is a native of Jackson county and is a daughter of Rev. Gifford Omans (deceased), a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who came from New York to Michigan in childhood, and here passed his mature years in the service of his beloved church, in the faith of which he also passed away. The Omans family is of Scotch origin and came to America in colonial days, many of its male members becoming members of the patriot army in the war of the Revolution.

Mrs. Jennie May DeKraker is a lady of excellent education, having passed through the curriculum of the Spring Arbor academy, and later graduating from business college in 1893. She next took a course in a hospital at Omaha, Neb., from which she graduated as a trained nurse, and as a result of this education she is invaluable to her husband in his professional work.

Dr. DeKraker and wife are members of the Second street Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics the doctor is altogether independent. From a financial standpoint, the doctor may well congratulate himself, as he earned the means to pay his expenses through college, and since he began the active practice of his profession he has realized a handsome home and other city property, the latter bringing him a neat income from rentals. He and wife are highly esteemed in the social circles of the city. In which their personal merits have secured them a very prominent position.