A native of Connecticut, Mr. Robinson was born January 21, 1849 at Hampton, Windom County. He remained a resident of New England only until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he removed to the middle west, establishing his home at Lee Center, Illinois. There he remained until 1868, when he became a resident of Grundy county, Iowa, settling near Conrad. He purchased a quarter section of prairie land in the midst of a district which at that time was but slightly developed. He turned the first furrows upon his farm and continued its further cultivation and improvement until January 1, 1881, when he put aside the active work of the fields in order to enter upon the duties of county recorder of Grundy county, to which office he had been elected the previous fall. By reelection he continued to occupy that position for six years, after which he returned to the farm and thereon remained until 1892, when he became a resident of Armstrong, and in connection with William Stuart embarked in the banking business. On the 1st of July, 1900, they reorganized their bank under the name of the First National Bank, capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, at which time Mr. Robinson was chosen president, with John Dows as vice president and L. P. Gjermo as cashier. On the 18th of April, 1902, Mr. Dows was elected president, with William Stuart as vice president and Mr. Robinson as cashier, and through the intervening period of fifteen years Mr. Robinson was continuously acted as cashier, largely directing the policy and shaping the interests of this institution, which is regarded as one of the safest and most reliable banking concerns of northwestern Iowa. In 1892 the company erected the present bank building and through the intervening years the business has steadily grown and developed. The First National has ever most carefully safeguarded the interests of its depositors and to its patrons has extended all possible credit to a point that would not jeopardize the interests of the bank. In addition to his other business interests Mr. Robinson has dealt quite extensively in land and has improved a number of farms, thus contributing to the substantial development of the county. In 1869, in Marshalltown, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of B. F. Robinson and Miss Elizabeth Barnes, a daughter of Stephen Barnes, a native of New York. Extensive and important as have been the business interests of Mr. Robinson, he has yet found time to serve the public in various important connections and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability and public spirit, have again and again called upon him for aid and support of matters of public moment He has been mayor of Armstrong, in which connection he gave to the city a businesslike and progressive administration. He was elected to represent his district in the twenty-ninth general assembly and so capable was he as a member of the house that he was returned for service in the thirtieth and thirty-first sessions. He was the author of the lake bed bill, was active in support of drainage bills and in fact was connected with much important constructive legislation that has furthered the interests of his constituents and the commonwealth at large. He was well qualified for political leadership and it is well known that he never subverts the public interest in an effort to promote personal welfare. Both Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are active and earnest workers in the Presbyterian church and he served as a member of the building committee at the time of erection of the church in Armstrong. He is equally loyal to the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity and in fact has at all times been an honorable and upright career, characterized by all those forces which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.

A native of Connecticut, Mr. Robinson was born January 21, 1849 at Hampton, Windom County. He remained a resident of New England only until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he removed to the middle west, establishing his home at Lee Center, Illinois. There he remained until 1868, when he became a resident of Grundy county, Iowa, settling near Conrad. He purchased a quarter section of prairie land in the midst of a district which at that time was but slightly developed. He turned the first furrows upon his farm and continued its further cultivation and improvement until January 1, 1881, when he put aside the active work of the fields in order to enter upon the duties of county recorder of Grundy county, to which office he had been elected the previous fall. By reelection he continued to occupy that position for six years, after which he returned to the farm and thereon remained until 1892, when he became a resident of Armstrong, and in connection with William Stuart embarked in the banking business. On the 1st of July, 1900, they reorganized their bank under the name of the First National Bank, capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, at which time Mr. Robinson was chosen president, with John Dows as vice president and L. P. Gjermo as cashier. On the 18th of April, 1902, Mr. Dows was elected president, with William Stuart as vice president and Mr. Robinson as cashier, and through the intervening period of fifteen years Mr. Robinson was continuously acted as cashier, largely directing the policy and shaping the interests of this institution, which is regarded as one of the safest and most reliable banking concerns of northwestern Iowa. In 1892 the company erected the present bank building and through the intervening years the business has steadily grown and developed. The First National has ever most carefully safeguarded the interests of its depositors and to its patrons has extended all possible credit to a point that would not jeopardize the interests of the bank. In addition to his other business interests Mr. Robinson has dealt quite extensively in land and has improved a number of farms, thus contributing to the substantial development of the county. In 1869, in Marshalltown, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of B. F. Robinson and Miss Elizabeth Barnes, a daughter of Stephen Barnes, a native of New York. Extensive and important as have been the business interests of Mr. Robinson, he has yet found time to serve the public in various important connections and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability and public spirit, have again and again called upon him for aid and support of matters of public moment He has been mayor of Armstrong, in which connection he gave to the city a businesslike and progressive administration. He was elected to represent his district in the twenty-ninth general assembly and so capable was he as a member of the house that he was returned for service in the thirtieth and thirty-first sessions. He was the author of the lake bed bill, was active in support of drainage bills and in fact was connected with much important constructive legislation that has furthered the interests of his constituents and the commonwealth at large. He was well qualified for political leadership and it is well known that he never subverts the public interest in an effort to promote personal welfare. Both Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are active and earnest workers in the Presbyterian church and he served as a member of the building committee at the time of erection of the church in Armstrong. He is equally loyal to the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity and in fact has at all times been an honorable and upright career, characterized by all those forces which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.

A native of Connecticut, Mr. Robinson was born January 21, 1849 at Hampton, Windom County. He remained a resident of New England only until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he removed to the middle west, establishing his home at Lee Center, Illinois. There he remained until 1868, when he became a resident of Grundy county, Iowa, settling near Conrad. He purchased a quarter section of prairie land in the midst of a district which at that time was but slightly developed. He turned the first furrows upon his farm and continued its further cultivation and improvement until January 1, 1881, when he put aside the active work of the fields in order to enter upon the duties of county recorder of Grundy county, to which office he had been elected the previous fall. By reelection he continued to occupy that position for six years, after which he returned to the farm and thereon remained until 1892, when he became a resident of Armstrong, and in connection with William Stuart embarked in the banking business. On the 1st of July, 1900, they reorganized their bank under the name of the First National Bank, capitalized at fifty thousand dollars, at which time Mr. Robinson was chosen president, with John Dows as vice president and L. P. Gjermo as cashier. On the 18th of April, 1902, Mr. Dows was elected president, with William Stuart as vice president and Mr. Robinson as cashier, and through the intervening period of fifteen years Mr. Robinson was continuously acted as cashier, largely directing the policy and shaping the interests of this institution, which is regarded as one of the safest and most reliable banking concerns of northwestern Iowa. In 1892 the company erected the present bank building and through the intervening years the business has steadily grown and developed. The First National has ever most carefully safeguarded the interests of its depositors and to its patrons has extended all possible credit to a point that would not jeopardize the interests of the bank. In addition to his other business interests Mr. Robinson has dealt quite extensively in land and has improved a number of farms, thus contributing to the substantial development of the county. In 1869, in Marshalltown, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of B. F. Robinson and Miss Elizabeth Barnes, a daughter of Stephen Barnes, a native of New York. Extensive and important as have been the business interests of Mr. Robinson, he has yet found time to serve the public in various important connections and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability and public spirit, have again and again called upon him for aid and support of matters of public moment He has been mayor of Armstrong, in which connection he gave to the city a businesslike and progressive administration. He was elected to represent his district in the twenty-ninth general assembly and so capable was he as a member of the house that he was returned for service in the thirtieth and thirty-first sessions. He was the author of the lake bed bill, was active in support of drainage bills and in fact was connected with much important constructive legislation that has furthered the interests of his constituents and the commonwealth at large. He was well qualified for political leadership and it is well known that he never subverts the public interest in an effort to promote personal welfare. Both Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are active and earnest workers in the Presbyterian church and he served as a member of the building committee at the time of erection of the church in Armstrong. He is equally loyal to the teachings and purposes of the Masonic fraternity and in fact has at all times been an honorable and upright career, characterized by all those forces which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.