He was an early resident of Palisade, Colorado. He moved with his wife and family from Indiana in the 1900’s. They traveled by train, intending to move to Oregon where he would take a teaching position, but were persuaded instead to purchase a peach orchard in Palisade. The orchard was small enough for the family to work it themselves. He was an early member of the Mt. Lincoln School Board, and was the primary party responsible for the construction of Mt. Lincoln High School. His wife was Mattie (Cobleny) Roe.
He was born in Wisconsin to John C. Carman and Julia Carmen. His mother was a German immigrant. US Census records show him living with his wife, Edith Carman, in the Pomona area of Mesa County, Colorado by 1910, when he was thirty-five. He was a fruit farmer in the Second Fruitridge area of Pomona. He was an extremely organized man who planned his work year very carefully and who provided very specific instructions to his hired help. He grew ten acres of pears.