James Robinson, on section 30, Macedonia Township, is a native of Yorkshire, England, born April 3, 1848, the son of James and Martha (Rainbow) Robinson. He was a boy of four years when his parents first came to America and settled in Wayne County, New York, where they resided four years, and then moved to Johnson County, Iowa, in 1856, where settled and resided eight years, and then moved to Iowa County. The father died May 12, 1886, and the mother died June 20, 1886. They raised nine children, six sons and three daughters, of whom James was the sixth child. In 1875 our subject visited the Pacific Coast at Oregon, Washington and California, and remained until 1876, when he returned home. He bought 120 acres of wild land in this county, and in 1877 moved on the same. He is one of the pioneer threshers of the county, and was one of the first to use a steam thresher, and is a practical and experienced engineer.

Mr. Robinson was married in Jefferson County, Iowa, February 1, 1882, to Emma Summers, who was born and reared in Iowa, and was the daughter of William Summers. They have four children: Grace Ethel, James Walter, Benjamin Roy and Inez Beryl. Politically Mr. Robinson is a Republican, and is a member of the I.O.O.F., Lodge No. 421, and of the Ruby Lodge, No. 415, F. & A.M., at Macedonia.