Santa Clara County

Biographies


 

 

 

 

 

JOHN PLASKETT JARMAN

 

 

JOHN PLASKETT JARMAN.  A man of great business energy and activity, John Plaskett Jarman is prominently identified with the leading interests of San Jose, and as president of the Merchants’ Association is intimately associated with its industrial and financial prosperity.  Public-spirited, progressive and liberal, he takes a genuine interest in city and county, and lends his personal encouragement and influence toward the establishment of all beneficial projects.  A native of England, he was born June 27, 1849, in Congleton, Cheshire county, which was also the birthplace of his father, Matthew Jarman.

 

Reared to agricultural pursuits, Matthew Jarman was engaged in farming in Congleton during his earlier life, but was afterward there employed in a clerical capacity until his death.  He married Mary Howarth, who was born in Cumberland county, England, and spent her entire life in her native land, dying in Cheshire county.  She bore her husband five children, of whom four grew to years of maturity, namely: H. G., a successful contractor, and Thomas, both of whom died in San Francisco; John Plaskett, the subject of this sketch; and William, residing in San Jose.

 

Having acquired a practical education in the public schools of England, John P. Jarman began, at the age of fifteen years, to learn the painter’s trade, at which he served a full apprenticeship.  In the spring of 1868 he immigrated to the United States, and spent the following summer in Evanston, Ill.  In the fall of 1868, with his brother, H. G. Jarman, he came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama.  After working at his trade for a few weeks in San Francisco, Mr. Jarman located in San Jose, and was here successfully employed in contracting and painting for nineteen years, employing in the busy seasons as many as fifty men.  He is still thus engaged, and in addition to his contract work owns a well stocked and up-to-date paint store on South Second street, where he is carrying on a substantial business, having in the years that have elapsed since he opened the store, in 1887, won an extensive and lucrative patronage.

 

Mr. Jarman married, in San Jose, Jane Hutchinson, who was born in Douglas county, Ore., and they have three children living: Albert H., graduated from the University of Michigan with the degree of L.L.B., is an attorney in San Jose; Kate E., a graduate of the State Normal School, is the wife of E. Williams, of San Jose; and Edith, a student at the Leland Stanford Jr. University.  Actively identified with the Republican party, Mr. Jarman takes great interest in municipal affairs, and served for two years as councilman, representing the fourth ward.  He is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., which he served as master two terms; and belongs to Garden City Lodge No. 72, I.O.O.F., which he joined in 1872.  He has been a member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce since its organization, and was one of the organizers of the Merchants’ Association, of which he is now president.  In his religious views and beliefs he is an Episcopalian.

 

 

 

[Inserted by D. Toole.]

 

John Plaskett Jarman

1921 May 2, Evening News, P2, San Jose, California

Jarmans Hurt; Home

Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Jarman, who were injured in an automobile accident near Fresno yesterday, returned home late this afternoon, their injuries not being considered serious.  Details of the accident, except that the car which struck the Jarman coupe was driven by a Mr. Bufton, are lacking.

 

1921 May 2, San Diego Union, P5, San Diego, California

11 Persons Hurt in Three Motor Car Accidents

Two of Cases May Result Fatally; One Auto Burns, Following Collision

Fresno, May 1 – Eleven persons were badly injured, two probably fatally, as a result of three auto accidents occurring near Madera late Saturday night and Sunday morning.  The injured are:  <snipped>

W. W. Bufton of Berkeley, legs badly injured, lacerated about face.

W. B. Bufton, broken ribs, lacerations on face and hands.

Mrs. J. Bufton, bad lacerations and bruises; may die.

Frank Bufton, Calgary, Alberta, badly cut about face.

Mrs. Frank Bufton, limbs injured.

J. P. Jarman, bad lacerations on head.

As a result of a collision between a car driven by Mrs. J. P. Jarman of San Jose, and one driven by W. W. Bufton of Berkeley, five persons are at a local sanitarium suffering from bad lacerations and bruises.  The accident occurred a few miles south of Madera about 2 p.m. today.  Mrs. J. Bufton is the most serious inured.  It was stated that she might die.  According to W. W. Bufton, who was driving, their car was attempting to make a turn near Herndon when he saw another car approaching at a high speed. He turned from the road, but the other car crashed into his almost totally wrecking it.  Immediately after the collision the Bufton car burst into flames and was completely destroyed.

 

1921 May 9, Evening News, P10, San Jose, California

Jarman – In Fresno, Cal., May 8, 1921, John Plaskett Jarman, beloved husband of Jane Jarman, father of Mrs. Katherine Williams, Albert H. Jarman and Edith L. Jarman, a native of Cheshire, England, aged 72 years.

 

1921 May 9, Evening News, P3, San Jose, California

John Jarman, Pioneer, Dead

John Plaskett Jarman, aged 72, founder the[sic] the J. P. Jarman company of this city, passed away at Fresno shortly after noon yesterday, his death coming after an illness of a week, leaving a host of friends in this city and throughout the state to mourn his passing.  Several years ago Mr. Jarman suffered a slight stroke of apoplexy[sic], not being bothered again until last Sunday, May 1, when he suffered a second stroke while riding in an automobile with his family.  Since the time of his attack he was confined to the  Burnett hospital in Fresno, apparently improving, but on Saturday he took a turn for the worse and sank gradually until the end, which came during the noon hour yesterday.  Members of his family were with him at the time of his death.

Was Councilman

Jarman, who was a former city councilman of San Jose, was a member of San Jose lodge No. 10, F.&A.M., and was a Shriner.  He also served on the board of education of this city for some time.  He is survived by his widow, Jane Jarman, two daughter, Mrs. Katherine Williams and Miss Edith L. Jarman, both teachers at the local high school, and a son, at present practicing in Washington, D.C.  The body will arrive in San Jose on  Tuesday, and funeral arrangements will be postponed until word from the son in the east is received as to whether or not he will be present.  The Masons will be in charge of the funeral.

 

1921 May 10, San Jose Mercury News, P13, San Jose, California

Masonic Services for John P. Jarman

Funeral for Business Man to Be Held Friday\

The body of John P. Jarman, prominent business man of this city who died in Fresno Sunday, will arrive in this city today.  Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 13, 1921, at the Masonic temple, and will be conducted by members of San Jose Lodge, No. 10, F.&A.M.

 

1921 May 13, Evening News, P1, San Jose, California

Jarman Funeral Today

The funeral of John Plaskett Jarman, well known local business man and one of the city’s oldest residents, will be held this afternoon from the Masonic temple on South First street at 2:30 o’clock.  The funeral services will be in charge of the grand lodge of California, F. & A.M., assisted by the San Jose Pyramid of Sciots, and the San Jose commandery of the Knights Templar, No. 10, which will form the funeral escort.  Interment will take place at Oak Hill cemetery.

 

1921 May 14 San Jose Mercury News, P9, San Jose, California [not a great copy]

Masonic Officers of State Honor Brother Member

The Late John Plaskett Jarman [photo included]

Unusually impressive funeral services were held yesterday afternoon from the Masonic temple for John P. Jarman, grand lodge officers of the F.&A.M. of the state of California officiating, the deceased being at the time of his death grand Bible bearer, of the order.  The grand officers present were George F. Rodden, grand master; Charles A. Adams, deputy grand master; William A. Sherman, senior grand warden; Charles G. Lambert, junior grand warden; J. H. McGehen, grand treasurer; John Wicher, grand secretary; Thomas J. Baker, grand lecturer; Lynn T. White, grand chaplain; R. G. Squires, grand orator; H. S. Johnson, assistant grand secretary; Sidney B. Porce, grand marshal; Walter H. Lillick, grand senior deacon; J. J. Schmidt, grand junior deacon; J. Y. Lapp, grand senior steward; F. T. _______[unreadable], grand junior steward; Frank G. Watson, grand _____[unreadable].  The services were attended by the largest number of persons ever at the local Masonic hall for a similar purpose and were not only very impressive but were very beautiful in their solemnness.  The great profusion of flowers made necessary two _______[unreadable words] to convey them to the grave at Oak Hill cemetery.

Honorary Pallbearers

The honorary pallbearers consisted of the masters and past masters of the various lodges of the vicinity and were George W____[unreadable], San Jose lodge No. 10, Percy H. Thompson, Friendship lodge No. 210, Joseph T. Hancock, Fraternity lodge No. 399, L. T. Smith, Golden Rule lodge No. 479, William R. Flint, Texas lodge No. 46 San Juan, Bert W. Martin, Keith lodge No. 167 Gilroy, Robert Rankin, Mountain View lodge no. 194, I. H. Walker, Los Gatos lodge No. _92, W. B. George Liberty lodge no. 299, Santa Clara, F. O. Bennett, Charity lodge No. 862, Campbell, W. J. Covert, Morgan Hill Lodge No. 46_ and W. H. Walker San Benito Lodge No. 211, Hollister.  The active pallbearers were employes of the Jarman Paint company of this city of which the deceased had been the active head ever since the establishment had been in business.  They were J. Boes, S. H. Turner, J. Wilde, I. Rohrnbacke, R. Higgins and D. Thayer.  (Concluded on Page Eleven)  John Plaskett Jarman was born in England 72 years ago but had lived and done business in this city for over 40 years, where he had made a host of friends not only by his kind and considerate ways and helping hand but by his justness and willingness to go to any length to help a worthy man or a worthy cause.  Over a year ago he suffered a stroke of apoplexy but afterward regained his health but was in apparently his usual condition when on Sunday, May 1, while on an auto trip with members of his family he was again stricken near Fresno.  Taken to the Burnett hospital he was apparently improving when a change for the worst came on May 6[sic] and he passed away on the following day surrounded by members of his family.

As indicated by the officers officiating at the services, the deceased was a Mason of high degree.  For a long period some years ago he was a member of the city board of education and afterward served as city councilman.  He has always taken great interest in the growth and upbuilding of San Jose and vicinity and was to be found at the front of ever movement for civic beterment[sic].  He will be missed in the councils of those having the city a[sic] good at heart as well as by a host of friends who depended on his judgment in many matters.  He is mourned by his wife, Mrs. Jane Jarmam, two daughters, Mrs. Katherine William[sic] and Edith L. Jarman, both teachers in the San Jose high school, and one son, Attorney Albert H. Jarman.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transcribed by Donna Toole.

­­­­Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1345. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.


© 2016  Donna Toole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Clara Biography

Golden Nugget Library