Robert J. Robertson

ROBERTSON, CAMPBELL, LAMSON, BROOKS, NELSON, KNEPPER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/6/2007 at 10:31:18

Biographies from the 1914 "Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties of Iowa"

ROBERT J. ROBERTSON.

One of the prosperous business men of Osceola County, Iowa, who has made a pronounced success in his chosen vocation is Robert J. Robertson. He is a member of that class of enterprising, public-spirited citizens who have done a great deal for the development of their county. For this reason he is rightly regarded as one of the representative men of his community. He has ever done all in his power for the betterment of the common welfare and as an honest dealing and successful business man his life has been full of interesting and varied experiences.

Robert J. Robertson, a native of Quebec, Canada, was born February 25, 1869, and is the son of Alexander and Isabella Robertson. Alexander Robertson was the son of William Robertson, a sailor who was born in Scotland, and came to Canada early in life, but followed the sea all of his days. Alexander Robertson was born in Canada and was reared on a farm and lived the life of a farmer until his death, in December, 1911. He and his wife were loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and lived a life in strict accord with the teachings of that denomination. Alexander Robertson and wife were the parents of eight children: Emily, the wife of Samuel Campbell; Elizabeth, the wife of Harry Lamson; William T.; Maggie, the wife of Henry Brooks; Alexander; Belle; Robert J., whose history is here presented, and Flora, the wife of Henry Nelson. The mother of these children died November 10, 1913.

Robert J. Robertson was only two years of age when his parents moved to Dickinson County, Iowa. After coming to this state he attended school during the winter time and assisted his father on the farm during the summer. He worked on the home farm until 1899 when he opened a real estate office in Harris, Osceola County. For the past fifteen years he has been engaged in the real estate business in that city and has had remarkable success. He does an extensive business in farm land in this and adjoining states. He has not only sold thousands of acres of land, but is also the owner himself of four hundred and eighty acres of fine land in this county, as well as considerable land in other states. He started in the business without any capital whatever, but by good management and keen business ability he has made himself one of the most substantial business men of his county. He is a man of pleasing personality and has commanded the confidence and respect of everyone with whom he has been associated.

Mr. Robertson was married February 26, 1902, to Ina Knepper, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Knepper, of O'Brien County. William Knepper is an old and prominent settler of O'Brien County and a soldier of the Civil War. He served four years with distinction, being wounded at the battle of Stone's River. William Knepper was the father of nine children: Ina (the wife of Mr. Robertson), Hurbert, Ash, Edna, Charles, Laura, John, Sadie and Harold.

Mr. Robertson is a Republican in politics, but has never cared or sought for a public office of any kind. He has always devoted himself strictly to his own interests and, while taking an interest in the issues of the day, he has never felt inclined to indulge in local politics. He and his wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which denomination he is a trustee and has served as superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a man of clean character and wholesome life and has a large number of friends in Harris and the county who admire him for his many good qualities.

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