Reuben Maurits, M. D., corner Lake avenue and East street, Grand Rapids, is a native of Vriesland, Ottawa county, Mich., was born October 29, 1870, the youngest of the twelve children born to William J. and Margaret (Rychel) Maurits.

William J. Maurits and Margaret Rychel, natives of Holland, came to America with a colony of their countrymen and settled in Grand Rapids in 1847. In 1849 their marriage took place, and after a residence in the city for about twenty years, during which the father followed his trade of carpenter and builder, they sought a home on a farm in Ot-

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tawa county, and in Zeeland, that county, they are now living in quiet retirement. Of their twelve children, seven still survive, of whom further mention will be made.

Dr. Reuben Maurits was educated at Hope college, Holland, Mich., in literature and the classics, and after graduating entered the medical department of the university of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in 1889, and graduated from this famous institution in 1892. Immediately following this important occurrence he located for practice in Grand Rapids, where his abilities have been rewarded with a success that justifies him in still retaining the office and residence of which he first took possession seven years ago. He is a member of the Grand Rapids Medical and Surgical society and has served as visiting physician to the Kent county infirmary for nearly three years, having been elected, as a republican, to that office by the board of county commissioners; he was also instructor in gynecology at the Grand Rapids college of Medicine one year, but resigned this position on account of the urgent demands in his private practice.

Dr. Maurits was united in marriage in Chicago, Ill., November 25, 1897, with Miss Angeline DeBey, a native of that city and a daughter of the late Dr. William and Eva (Takken) DeBey. Her grandfather, the late Rev. Dr. DeBey, of Chicago, was also an active and progressive worker in the Reformed church of the Windy city; Mrs. Eva (Takken) DeBey is a native of Holland, but for many years was a resident of Grand Haven, Mich., now makes her home with Dr. Maurits, the subject, and is well known among the old settlers here. Mrs. Dr. Maurits was a graduate of the Chicago high school, and of the Cook county normal, and for two years was a teacher at Chicago, and for a like period in the public schools of Grand Rapids. The doctor and his wife are members of the Bethany Reformed church of this city, and their social relations are extremely pleasant.

Of the seven surviving members of the twelve children born to the parents of Dr. Maurits, all are married save the youngest daughter, and the husbands of the daughters are farmers; one son is a carpenter, one a machinist and the third is the accomplished physician, Reuben, of this sketch. The names of the seven, given in priority of age, are as follows: Antonia, Henrietta, Peternella, Joseph, Peter, Maud and Reuben.