Jacobus Keukelaar, an undertaker with twenty yeas experience, with his office at No. 350 Ottawa street, Grand Rapids, was born in Holland July 7, 1838, received his

elementary education in that country, and there grew to manhood. About the year 1867, having received favorable accounts from friends in the United States of the opportunities afforded here for a poor man to rise in the world, he embarked, with some misgivings, on board a sailing vessel, and after a passage of forty-seven days landed in New York City, whence he came to Grand Rapids. Here, for a long time, he worked at whatever he could find to do, was very economical, and in course of time was able to buy a horse and wagon, with which he did miscellaneous hauling, peddled wood, etc., and steadily forged ahead. He also worked about the furniture factories considerably, and eventually learned undertaking under Pete McCallum. In due course of time he became able to embark in business for himself, about 1878, since when prosperity has followed his undertakings.

Mr. Keukelaar, on April 13, 1870, was united in marriage with Miss Tryntje Kimm, also a native of the Netherlands, and this marriage has resulted in the birth of two children, viz: John, now twenty-seven years old, who is in the printing business and who is married to Miss Martha Hendricks, who has borne him one child—Jennie; Henderika, the second child born to Mr. Keukelaar, is now eighteen, is highly accomplished, and is quite proficient in music, the piano being her favorite instrument. The mother of Mrs. Keukelaar died in the old country and her father in the United States about twenty years ago; the mother of Mr. Keukelaar passed away in 1862 and his father in 1883. Mr. Keukelaar was reared in the faith of the Holland Christian Reformed church, of which he is still an active member and a trustee. He has been very industrious through life, as well as frugal, and has earned for himself a comfortable home, and built up a business that yields him a steady and satisfactory income and places him in a position that commands the respect of his fellow citizens.