Francis C. Tarman

#59 Francis Clayton “Babe” Tarman (1890-1970) 1945-1946

Francis Clayton Tarman, son of Chauncey Shield Tarman and Althea Strong, was born November 26, 1890 in Gridley, McLean County, Illinois. In 1893, the Tarman family removed from Gridley, settling Nevada, Story County, Iowa. Francis Tarman received his all his education in the Nevada schools.

He married Nevada native Jennie Bradford Gretsinger, daughter of Napoleon Bonaparte Gretsinger and Melissa Elizabeth Bradford, on January 19, 1910 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa. Francis’ father, Chauncey Tarman, was a butcher and taught his son the same trade. Soon the couple settled in Nevada and Francis Tarman was, like his father, working as a butcher. In 1926, Francis “Babe” Tarman constructed a building for his market at 1123 6^th Street fashioned “Tarman’s Banner Market.”

He continued in his meat market but also served upon the Nevada City Council for two terms from 1925 to 1929. In 1936, he added general groceries to his butcher shop and renamed the business, “Tarman’s Rite Way Food Store.”

Mr. Tarman sold the business in 1943 and set himself up in the real estate business, Tarman & Son Real Estate and Insurance. His offices were at 1136-1138 ½ Sixth Street above the then Dillin’s Department Store. In 1944, he was elected mayor of Nevada and served one term from 1945 to 1946.

On March 22, 1963, his wife Jennie Bradford (Gretsinger) Tarman died and he retired from the real estate business the following year in 1964. On October 5, 1970 Francis Clayton Tarman died in Nevada, Story County, Iowa. He left to survive him one son, Dr. G. Wayne Tarman.,