Alfred M. Webster, M.D., the well known homeopathic physician and surgeon of Grand Rapids, and a member of the firm of Ruffe & Webster, is a native of the Wolverine state and was born in Richland, Kalamazoo county, August 19, 1849.

Dr. Webster received his elementary education in Richland, and after leaving school worked on a farm for a few years; he then learned the printer’s trade, which he followed as a journeyman for two years. He next taught school for fifteen years in Alaska, Birmingham, Monroe and East Tawas, Mich., in all of which places he filled the office of superintendent. He graduated from the State Normal school of Michigan in the classical course in 1869, entered the Chicago Homeopathic college in 1885, and graduated from the latter institution in 1887.He engaged in active practice of his profession at East Tawas for a short time, built up a fine practice, and in 1889 formed a partnership at AuSable with Dr. A.L. Ruffe, where they practiced medicine together and also operated a drug store, Dr. Webster being a registered pharmacist. In 1891 these gentlemen came to Grand Rapids, and now stand at the head of their school of practice in this city.

Dr Webster is a member of the Michigan Homeopathic Medical society; of Grand River lodge, No. 34, F.&A.M.; Royal Arch chapter, No.7; Oriental chapter, Eastern Star; the Amaranth and the M.W. of A., and is one of the originators of the New Era association of Grand Rapids, of which he is the general secretary. The New Era is a fraternal insurance company, was established October 20,1897, has at present a membership of 2,000, and differs from other insurance societies, in that it is conducted without lodge expenses.

Dr. Webster was first united in marriage in 1870, with Miss Caroline M. Donaldson, of Saline, Mich., but this lady was called from earth in 1879, leaving one son, Donald Eugene, who is now employed as local secretary of branch No. 1, of the New Era. The second marriage of the doctor took place November25, 1880, the lady of his choice being Miss Hattie Hale, of Alaska, Mich., who blesses him with two daughters--Ida C. and Raey M.--and died in AuSable ten years after her marriage.

The doctor is a member of the Division street Methodist Episcopal church, is missionary superintendent of the Sunday schools, and lives fully up to the teachings of the denomination to which he belongs. In politics he is independent, but is a prohibitionist from principle, and voted with the party as long as it had a distinctive existence. He was its candidate for congress from the Tenth district of Michigan in 1884, but shared in the general defeat. Of late years, however, the doctor has eschewed politics, as his large practice requires nearly all his attention, what little time he has to spare being devoted to the affairs of the New Era, the office of which he is contiguous to his own in the "Gilbert" building.