When James Forrest Bridgman was born on 19 April 1898, in Galva Township, Henry, Illinois, United States, his father, Adna Guy Bridgeman, was 28 and his mother, Alice Ann Lord, was 29. He married Mary Catherine Kopp on 4 June 1930, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. He lived in Galva, Galva Township, Henry, Illinois, United States in 1900 and Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States for about 10 years. He died on 25 March 1979, in Calimesa, Riverside, California, United States, at the age of 80, and was buried in Calimesa, Riverside, California, United States.