Biography - ROBERT JARMAN

One of the citizens of Shaws Point township who by the intelligent direction of his affairs has achieved a gratifying degree of success is Robert Jarman, who was born in Devonshire, England, on the 1st of May, 1825. His parents, Philip and Elizabeth (Sloman) Jarman, were natives of the same county. The father, who was a mason by trade, engaged in contracting during the entire period of his active career, his death occurring in 1891. The mother passed away in 1833. Both were members of the Church of England.

Robert Jarman was reared and educated in his native land, where he resided until he was twenty years of age. In 1845 he emigrated to the United States, locating in Lake county, Illinois, where he worked as a laborer. Later he obtained employment in a brickyard, and after being identified with this for a time he worked as a farm hand. Having acquired a little capital he then went down the river to Alton, where he bought a horse and wagon and engaged in draying. After devoting three years to that activity he went to Jersey county, where he became associated with a cousin in cultivating a farm for a similar period. At the expiration of that time he came to Macoupin county and bought eighty acres of land in Lloney Point township, which he immediately set about improving and cultivating. The operation of this proved so lucrative that four years later he was able to add to his holdings another one hundred and twenty acres. He continued increasing his possessions until he had acquired four hundred acres of land, to the cultivation of which he still gives his personal supervision. His is unquestionably one of the finest farms in Macoupin county. Mr. Jarman is a firm believer in scientific farming and has always made a very careful study of modern agricultural methods. The ideas of the scientist and theorist united with his practical experience, covering a long period, have been productive of most gratifying results. His land, which was always fertile, has been drained and cultivated in accordance with the best approved methods and by means of the rotation of crops each acre has been made to yield the maximum amount, the quality being fully equal to the quantity. His buildings are conveniently arranged and practically and substantially constructed, providing ample room for the shelter of both stock and farming implements as well as for the products of his fields. In connection with the cultivation of his land Mr. Jarman has always engaged in the breeding and raising of high grade stock, particularly horses. He at one time kept three high-priced stallions and now owns one named Prince Victor that came from the mews of the late King Edward of England, for which Mr. Jarman paid three thousand dollars. He is a beautiful animal and from him have been raised some very fine colts. Mr. Jarman always keeps about twenty-five head of horses and from eighty to one hundred head of shorthorn cattle, while he annually raises about sixty hogs.

On the 4th of March, 1861, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Jarman and Miss Selinda McDow, who was born in Jersey county, Illinois, on the 28th of April, 1835. She is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Lindsey) McDow, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of Kentucky. Mr. McDow located in Jersey county during the pioneer days of Illinois and there he entered land which he improved and cultivated until his death in 1881. The mother passed away in 1861. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Jarman there were born nine children, only five of whom attained maturity; Maggie M.; Elmer E.; Carrie E., who died in 1888, at the age of twenty years; Laura; and Charles O.

Mr. Jarman, having been reared a conformist, has always preferred the Episcopal church, but his wife and family affiliate with the Christian denomination. He also belongs to the Farmers Mutual Benefit Association and Shaws Point H. T. D. S. His allegiance to the country of his adoption was shown in a most practical manner in 1864 by his enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Forty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He went to the front in the autumn under Captain Usted, but was soon taken ill and sent to the hospital. Upon his recovery he was assigned guard duty at Alton and St. Louis, continuing to serve in that capacity until he was mustered out on the 24th of May, 1865. He is now awarded a pension of twenty dollars per month, because of his age, as he is now eighty-six. He maintains relations with his army comrades through the medium of his membership in the local Grand Army of the Republic, to the principles of which organization he has ever been loyal. Mr. Jarman exercises his political rights in support of the men and measures of the republican party, and although he has never prominently participated in governmental affairs, has been township commissioner for several years. Despite his years he is hale and hearty and gives his personal supervision to the work of his farm, where he and his wife, who is now seventy-six, continue to make their home.

Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 348-352.