Gerald Fitzgerald, an accomplished attorney at law of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a native of the dominion of Canada, and was born in the county of Perth, province of Ontario, March 29, 1858, a son of John and Juliet (Carpenter) Fitzgerald, natives, respectively, of the island of Jersey and Canada, and both of Irish descent, and whose marriage took place in Canada.

John Fitzgerald was twenty years of age when he arrived in the Dominion, and was there engaged in tanning until 1865, when he came to Michigan and entered the boot and shoe trade at Pontiac, in which he continued until his death, which occurred February 15, 1893. He was a Protestant in religion, while his wife, who is now a resident of Seaforth, Canada, is a devout Catholic and a lady highly respected in her community. There were born to these parents seven children, in the following order: Sarah M., Julia, Gerald, (the subject), Agnes, Theresa, Mary H. and James P., of whom all are still living, with the exception of Theresa.

Gerald Fitzgerald was primarily educated in Stratford, Perth county, Canada, where he attended public school until fourteen years old, and then attended the high school at Pontiac, Mich., from which he graduated in 1875. His first business employment was for a short time in a carriage manufactory, and then for a year he was employed by the Pullman Car company. His next employment was as a traveling collector for twelve years, and during this period he occupied his spare time in the study of the law, the result being that he was admitted to the bar of Kent county in 1894. Until 1896 he was alone in practice, and then became associated with M. H. Walker, with whom he still continues in partnership, and is doing a remunerative business.

November 19, 1885, at Grand Rapids, Mr. Fitzgerald was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Pettibone, a native of this city, born May 15, 1858, a daughter of Knowlton S. and Catherine B. (Jackson) Pettibone, the former of whom was born in Vermont. This union has been blessed with one child, named Dorothy Q. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald are members of the Unitarian church, and in politics Mr. Fitzgerald is a democrat. He is a business man from head to foot, always alert and always busy. He is secretary of the West Side Building & Loan association, deals in real estate, is agent for several standard fire insurance companies, and is a stockholder in the Michigan Carving company and the Valley City Ice & Coal company, being a director in both. He and his estimable wife enjoy an enviable social position, and both stand high in the general esteem.