MISS JENNIE ROBERTSON.

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          The western states are far ahead of the older and more conservative commonwealths of the east in recognition of the rights of women and also in presenting opportunities for women as office holders. Experience has demonstrated the ability of women in the discharge of many responsible public offices and the success of Miss Jennie Robertson as county recorder of Louisa county is additional evidence of the truth of this statement.

          She is a native of Louisa county, born May 10, 1864, a daughter of John and Keziah R. (Duncan) Robertson. Her maternal grandfather, A. J. Duncan, came to Louisa county in 1848 and purchased land for ten dollars per acre. Her father was born in Ohio and was brought to Louisa county, Iowa, with his parents in early boyhood. He devoted his attention to agriculture and stock-raising and acquired a farm of two hundred acres in this county, upon which he continued during the remainder of his life. He died May 8, 1886, age the age of forty-eight years. Her mother is still living and makes her home at Columbus Junction, being now seventy years old. There were ten children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Robertson, namely: Clara, who is deceased; Jennie, of this review; James M., who lives in Columbus City township; William A., deceased; Samuel G., of Morning Sun, Iowa; Margaret M., deceased; Thomas, of Columbus City; Harry A., of Columbus Junction; Nellie, deceased; and John J., also of Columbus Junction.

          Miss Jennie Robertson possessed good advantages of education in the country schools and continued her studies in normal schools under thoroughly qualified instructors. She readily acquired knowledge and, as she possesses the ability of imparting the same, she naturally followed school teaching for eight years with marked success. She taught for seven years in country schools and for one year in the city schools of Columbus Junction. She gave up teaching, however, and for several years filled a clerical position in mercantile business, later becoming connected as writer with the Columbus Safe Guard, a well known newspaper of Columbus Junction, a position which she occupied for six years.

          In November, 1908, Miss Robertson was elected county recorder of Louisa county for a term of two years, beginning in January, 1909. Having discharged the duties of the office to the satisfaction of the people of the county, she was . . .

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. . . reelected for a second term in November, 1910, and continues at a post for which by natural ability, education and training she seems eminently adapted. She has made an intelligent study of politics and as a result is an earnest advocate of the principles of the republican party. She is a protectionist and is also in favor of a strong central government with the nerve and stamina to take vigorous hold in case of emergency, preserving order and respect for law throughout the entire county.

          Religiously Miss Robertson adheres to the United Presbyterian church. She is public-spirited, progressive and fully alive to the resources that are lying dormant in her native county and state, and she strongly advocates keeping well to the front in all lines of modern development. She believes in straight-forward business administration of public affairs and her office is conducted in accordance with the most approved business methods, thus meeting the wants of the people and still further popularizing and promoting the influence of woman in political life.