supported the principles of the Democrat party, and is a member of the following social orders: A. F. & A. M. and the I. O. O. F. His wife is a consistent and worthy member of the Christian Church.
I. A. Ringheim has been engaged in the general mercantile business, in Nevada, Iowa, since the 3d of June, 1865, and from a small beginning has built up a large trade, his general stock being such as would compare favorably with that of larger establishments, in places double the size. His success is due largely to strict attention to business, study of the wants of, his customers, and fair dealing. Mr. Ringheim was born in Norway, February 1, 1835, and was the fifth of seven children, five now living, born to Anders K. and Britha (Klove) Ringheim, both of whom were born in Norway, in 1800, and died there in 1841 and 1880, respectively. I. A. Ringheim was reared to a knowledge of farm life in Norway, where he was also educated. In 1856 he came to the United States, and on the 29th of October, settled in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where for some time he worked as a farm hand, after which he became a clerk in a general store in Decorah, where he continued for four years. After a residence of nine years in Winneshiek County, or until the spring of 1865, he came to Nevada, where he has since resided. He is the oldest dry-goods merchant now doing business in the place, and his first store stood on the site of the present one, which is an excellent brick structure, erected in 1877, the first one of the kind to be built in Nevada. He was married to Mrs. Lorinda T. Johnson, on the 19th of December, 1867, but her death occurred March 11, 1872, in Nevada. She was a native of Norway, and at her death left the following children to mourn her loss: Severe L. Johnson, and Ada J., Emma C., Jennie M. and Andrew L. Ringheim ; the last named died August 20, 1872. Mr. Ringheim married his second wife, May 6, 1874, her maiden name being Jennie Sime. She is a daughter of Colben and Britha Sime, and was born in Norway, January 9, 1850. To her and Mr. Ringheim the following family of children have been born: Lydia B., Charles I., Bessie J., Edwin A., Sarah C., Noah A. and David T. Ringheim. Mr. Ringheim has always been an uncompromising Republican, and he and his family are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a man that has always been interested in the welfare of the county, is a patron of education, and takes much interest in educating his children.
Robert Alexander Robison, farmer and stock-raiser, Iowa Centre, Iowa. He whose name heads this brief sketch is one of Story County's oldest and most influential citizens. He is a native of the Keystone State, born in Mifflin County on the 15th of May, 1822, and is the son of John Robison, a native of the same State and county. The elder Robison grew to manhood in Mifflin County, and was there married to Miss Mary Anderson, a native also of Pennsylvania. He afterward settled on a farm in that county, and there continued until his death in 1853. His widow survived him several years. Robert A. Robison was the sixth of eight children—seven sons and one daughter. He remained under the parental roof, and assisted his father until eighteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade, and this carried on for several years, contracting and building. He moved west in 1855, located in La Fayette, Ind., and worked at his trade for eighteen months. In the fall of 1856 he came to Iowa, located in Story County, at Iowa Center, engaged in contracting and building for about four years and then settled on his present property in 1859. He first bought eighty acres, and has added to this from time to time,