John Melvin Bridgman, D. D. S., is among the popular and successful professional men of Grand Rapids, and no one stands higher than he before the public, inasmuch as he is distinctively a self made man. His education was obtained without financial aid, and from youth to mature manhood and middle age, he has been dependent only upon his own exertions. By this means he has acquired a competence, and lives in peace and good fellowship with all men. Dr. Bridgman was born in Rochester, N. Y., November 15, 1854, and attended the public schools of Rochester and Albany, N. Y. At an early age he entered the dental office of his uncle, Dr. James G. Bridgman, in Rochester, and well qualified for the practice of his profession when he reached Grand Rapids in the ‘sixties. Here he spent some years in the office of Dr. Rogers, a well known dentist and early settler of this city. He opened his present office and embarked in business on his own account on the 1^st of January, 1877, and has been in continuous an d successful practice ever since. That he might better round out his professional work, he took a post graduate course in the Chicago Dental college, returning to his practice with renewed energy and zeal. Through honorable and fair dealing, he has established an enviable reputation and amassed a fortune. The doctor possesses, in his own right, some valuable real estate in Grand Rapids, insuring him a handsome income from rentals, aside from the large receipts from professional work. He is an affable and pleasant gentleman, whose family, as well as himself, hold a prominent place in the better society of Grand Rapids. John M. Bridgman is the only child born to George R. and Eliza Jane (Smith) Bridgman, natives of New York state, the father having been born in New York City, and mother at Kendall Mills, near Rochester. George R. Bridgman was a master mechanic and finished workman at his chosen trade, that of a millwright. At an early day in the history of Grand Rapids he moved his family here, and was engaged in building and placing machinery in the various mills about the city. Among these are the now famous Valley City mills, the Star mills, the Crescent mills, and Godfrey’s Plaster mills. He also put in the extensive mechanical mills at Elk Rapids, but he did not live to round out the full time allotted to man. His death occurred in the city in 1888, at the age of fifty-two years. His widow has since been a member of the family of the subject, and is now in her sixty-seventh year. Though a mechanical genius in his day, the peer of any man in his chosen profession,

George Bridgman did not amass riches, and died a comparatively poor man, possessing the good will and esteem of all who knew him. Dr. Bridgman was married in September, 1875, at Newaygo, Mich., the lady of his choice Miss Ann Jacobi, a native of New York City, and a daughter of a prominent merchant of Newaygo, Mich. Her parents, Frederick and Marie (Zitz) Jacobi, ere natives of Leipsic, Germany, and came to this country in their early lives. The father died in Newaygo in 1888, and the mother still lives there. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jacobi were five in number, are still living to cheer the declining years of their mother, and are named as follows: Fredrika, who is the wife of Melvile Johnson, of St. Louis, Mo.; Ann, now Mrs. Bridgman; Lena, widow of John McGraw, late of New York City; Marie, married to Milton Bond, a lumber merchant in Mississippi, and Fredrick, a jeweler by occupation and still unmarried. The mother, Mrs. McGraw and Frederick make their home together in Newaygo, where Mrs. McGraw is engaged in the millinery business. Frederick is somewhat of a dog fancier, is the owner of the Woodbine kennels, and an importer and breeder of high class Cocker spaniels and English setters. A peculiar coincidence in the history of this family is the fact that three fathers—George Rodney Bridgman, James Smith, maternal grandfather of the doctor, and Frederick Jacobi—all died in the "eighties" between 1880 and 1889. Mrs. Eliza Jane Bridgman is still hale and hearty, whose presence in the family is a real necessity to the happiness of all the members. In her younger days she was an accomplished musician, and for twelve year sang in the choir of the Congregational church at Wautoma, Wis., she and her husband having been among the pioneers of that state. Dr. and Mrs. Bridgman have but one child, Miss Lena Belle Bridgman, a beautiful and accomplished young lady, still under the parental roof. Every advantage for education has been given her, including he special studies in elocution and music. In these she has taken particular interest, and her name has gone abroad as a gifted elocutionist and impersonator. In recognition of her special fitness as a teacher, she now has a large class of pupils, which she receives in the palatial home. Some of the leading ladies of this city are numbered among her students. Many of the entertainment given for "sweet charity’s sake." Or for the amusement and entertainment of invited guest, have their origin under the Bridgman roof. Miss Lena is also a leading soprano in the choir of St. Mark’s Episcopal church, of which the family are members. She is a young lady whose accomplishments are acknowledged to be far above mediocrity, yet she deports herself with that lady-like grace and ease which is inborn-not acquired. Her voice is the embodiment of sweetness and purity, involving a compass rarely attained after years of patient training. She revels unconsciously in the praise and adoration of all who know her. Her manner at home is that of a petted and idolized child. She appears all unconscious of her rare accomplishments, and, like the sweet and innocent child that she is, seems to take more pleasure in petting and fostering a wounded bird than in talking of her own marvelous possibilities. The press is full to overflowing, in her praise, and a loving and devoted mother has carefully gathered and preserved these in a scrapbook set apart for the purpose. It is a record of her personal achievements, of which the most renowned artists of our land might justly feel proud. It is impossible in a work of this character to do more than to commend the kind consideration and natural pride of her parents in thus preserving, for future reading, the views of the greatest critics the newspapers of the land. The Bridgman home is the personification of comfort and affluence. The mansion is built after the most modern style of architecture, with due regard to symmetry, beauty of design, economy of space and elegance, yet these are not its crowning features. "Home is where love is," and this is truly an ideal American home. The little family are all in all to each other. Surrounded by the luxuries which are the results of joint efforts and oneness of purpose, they are contented and happy, and that ought to be the acme of ambition. Dr. Bridgman has devoted the years of his mature manhood strictly to the interests of his profession. He has never found time to take active part in political affairs or social societies. In politics he votes for the best interests of the county, regardless of political party lines. He has neither sought nor held public office. The only societies with which he is affiliated are the M. W. of A. and Knights of Honor, both beneficial or insurance orders.