San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN M. BLODGETT, D. D. S.
The opportunities offered by
California to men of determination, energy, and perseverance find a fitting
illustration in the life of John M. Blodgett, D. D. S., who arrived in California
with his parents at the age of five years and for the past thirty-one years has
been prominently identified with the professional and business life of his
county and the state, having been an active member of the State Board of Dental
Examiners since 1909. He was born near
Mt. Sterling, Brown County, Illinois, on December 5, 1865. His father, Joseph H. Blodgett, was born in
Indiana and crossed the plains to California with an ox-team in 1857, but
returned east via the Isthmus of Panama and located at Lancaster, Schuyler
County, Missouri. In Scotland County,
Missouri, on October 27, 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Ellen
Chambers, a native of Richmond County, Ohio.
Afterwards the family moved to Mt. Sterling, Illinois, where their son,
John M. Blodgett, was born. Later they
again moved to Lancaster, Schuyler County, Missouri, and resided there until
the year 1870, when the family left Missouri for California on one of the early
continental passenger trains. Arriving
in Sacramento, they proceeded by steamer up the river to Red Bluff and from
there overland to Millville, Shasta County, where the father engaged in farming
and stockraising. However, Joseph H.
Blodgett and his wife spent their last days in Lodi. Their union was blessed with six children,
five of whom grew up. Martha M. is Mrs.
C. C. Garner, of Lodi. William O.
Blodgett was formerly a teacher, until he was elected county clerk of Shasta County,
where he served acceptably for many years.
He is now deputy county clerk, and is one of the best-known men in the
county. His home is in Redding. Dr. John M. Blodgett is the subject of our
interesting review. Dr. Thomas D.
Blodgett was a prominent physician and surgeon in Tulare until his passing
away, November 10, 1919. Walter S.
Blodgett is a farmer and vineyardist at Acampo.
John M. Blodgett attended the public
schools of Shasta County, and after completing his studies there entered Pierce
Christian College at College City. His
courses here were supplemented by attendance at the San Jose State Normal
School. He then spent one year teaching
school in Lakeview, Oregon. Having
become interested in dentistry, he entered the office of Dr. A. D. Gleaves in Redding, and under his preceptorship studied
diligently for a year. In the fall of
1888 he entered the dental department of the University of California, taking
the regular course, and was duly graduated with the class of 1892, with the
degree of D. D. S.
Dr. Blodgett located in Madera and
opened an office, but remained there for only a very short time. On May 29, 1892, he located in Lodi and
purchased the only dental office then in this city, and he has continued in the
practice of his profession here ever since, a period of more than thirty-one
years. Although he is a very busy man in
his profession, Dr. Blodgett finds time to engage in viticulture, in which he
is intensely interested. In partnership
with Charles M. Ferdum he owns the Ferdum and Blodgett vineyard of thirty acres near
Lodi. He also owns a half interest in
the Friedberger and Blodgett Building, centrally
located on the corner of Sacramento and Pine streets, one of the largest and
most modern office buildings in the city of Lodi. He is also interested in and a director of
the Lodi National Bank. When the city of
Lodi was incorporated in 1906, Dr. Blodgett was elected a member of the board
of trustees, on which he served for seven and a half years to the entire
satisfaction of his constituents, his efforts being to have a clean and
sanitary city and to place it on a sound financial basis. On December 4, 1909, Dr. Blodgett was
appointed a member of the State Board of Dental Examiners by Governor James N.
Gillett; and he was reappointed by him, and then by Governor Hiram Johnson, and
again by Governor Stephens, having served continuously since 1909, and as
president of the board in 1912 and again in 1922. Thus he is well and favorably known
throughout the whole state, and wields a wide influence in his profession. He is a member of the American Dental Association,
and has always been an active member of the State Dental Association, serving
as its president in 1920, the year of its Golden Jubilee Celebration in San
Francisco, it being the fiftieth anniversary of the association. He also has the distinction of being a life
member of the above association. He was
one of the organizers of the Central California District Dental Society, and
since 1915 has been a member of the executive council of the California State Dental
Association. He is president of the
People’s Building Company, that owns a business block in Lodi, and is a member
of the Lodi Business Men’s Association and the Associated Growers of Lodi, as
well as of the Rotary Club and the Mokelumne Club of Lodi, in which he has
served as a director and as president.
In his fraternal relations Dr.
Blodgett is very popular and prominent.
He was made a Mason in Lodi Lodge No. 256, F. & A. M., April 5,
1895, and in 1899 served as Master of the lodge; and since the beginning of the
present century he has been treasurer of the lodge. He has been an important factor in the building
up of the lodge, there having been only twenty members when he joined, while
now there are 275. He is a member of
Stockton Chapter No. 28, R. A. M.; Stockton Council, R. & S. M.; and
Stockton Commandery No. 8, K. T.; and is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite
Mason, his membership being in the Stockton Consistory. He is also a life member of Islam Temple, A.
A. O. N. M. S., and a charter member of the Eastern Star, being a past patron
of Lodi Chapter. Dr. Blodgett is a
director of the Masonic Temple Association of Lodi, which contemplates the
erection of a suitable Masonic Temple.
He is past chancellor of Lodi Lodge No. 41, K. of P., and a member of
Stockton Lodge No. 218, B. P. O. Elks, being the oldest in membership from
Lodi. During his career at the
University of California Dr. Blodgett was a charter member of Zeta Chapter,
Delta Sigma Delta Fraternity, in which he takes much pleasure and pride, being
a life member of the Supreme Chapter.
The marriage of Dr. Blodgett
occurred in Lodi, June 3, 1903, when he was united with Miss Florence Adele
Chase, a native of California, born in Calaveras County, a daughter of pioneer
parents. Their union has been blessed
with four children: Lois A., Grace W.,
Eleanor E., and John M., Jr. Mrs.
Blodgett is a charter member and past matron of Lodi Chapter No. 150, Order of
Eastern Star, is president of the Delphine Club, and a member of the Woman’s
Club of Lodi. Politically, Dr. Blodgett
gives his support to the Republican Party, and as a member of the state and
county central committees upholds the principles of his party; and in all
matters that tend to build up the community and advance the public welfare he
is found lending a helping hand. His
entire life has been actuated by high principles and honorable motives, and his
efforts in behalf of the community have been far-reaching. As a professional man, businessman, and
viticulturist, he is among the most successful in the county. He is decidedly a man of great energy, and
has accomplished much in his profession as well as in the development of the
great natural resources of this famous valley.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
698-701. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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