GERRIT J. DIEKEMA Gerrit J. Diekema is a prominent attorney, who has met with marked success in in the practice of his chosen profession. He has a decided veneration for the law, and this, combined with the accuracy of his legal knowledge, lucidly of statement and felicity of illustration, has given him the confidence of all his patrons. He was born in Holland, Mich., March 27 1859, a son of W. Diekema, and was reared and educated in the town of his birth, receiving the advantages of the common schools. In 1873, in order to more fully fit himself for the duties of life, he entered Hope College, in which he took a full classical course, graduating in 1881. Immediately thereafter he began the study of law in the law department of the State University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated there-from two years later. He immediately hung out his shingle at Holland, his old home, and unlike the majority of young lawyers he had not long to wait for clients, but at once entered upon an active legal practice, which has continued to grow in volume until he now has all the work he can properly attend to. He is at all times faithful to the interests of his clients, reads up his cases thoroughly, and is consequently never caught unprepared. In 1885 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Mart Alcott, daughter of Joseph Alcott, a resident of Illinois, and to their union a family of three children has been born: Marguerite, Mary and Willis. Mr. Diekema, his wife and children are regular attendants of the Reformed Church of America, are among the most highly respected citizens of Holland. Politically, the Republican party has always recommended itself to the excellent judgment of Mr. Diekema, and in 1884 he was elected to the position of Superintendent of Schools, which office he filled for two years. In 1885 his party further showed its appreciation of his mental powers and patriotism and his desire for the good of his section by electing him to the State Legislature, and this position he filled with distinguished ability for eight years. In the session of 1889-90, our subject was Speaker of the House of Representatives and presided with great judgment and wisdom in this responsibility and trying position. He was an able legislator, and while serving his constituents in this capacity did much good for his own section, and was by no means indifferent to the welfare of other portions of the State. He is usually on the Committee of Resolution in the State Conventions of the Republican party, and in all the conventions of his county he is a leader. In 1892 he was honored by receiving the nomination for Attorney-General of the State by his Republican friends, and at the election had for his opponent Mr. Ellis, who was the nominee on the Democratic and People’ ticket, and owing to this Mr. Diekema was defeated, though he received one thousand more votes than the Republican candidate for Governor, who was elected by thirty thousand majority. His career in the political arena has been one of honor, and he is no less distinguished as a lawyer, for he is a forcible, eloquent and convincing speaker, logical in his reasoning and always deeply in earnest. Mr. Diekema is one of the Directors of the First State Bank of Holland, and as he has always been interested in the cause of education, he was considered as a suitable man to be a member of the Council of Hope College of the city of Holland. He is the present City Attorney of this town, and as a legal practitioner does one of the largest businesses in the state, his practice being very large and remunerative. In personal appearance he is prepossessing, in manners he is very popular in the social circles of his section. He is one of the rising lawyers of the State, and will without doubt, ere many years pass over his head, stand among the eminent men of the country.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Charles Armstrong
Created: 6 May 2003
URL: Return to Bios Index