The treasurer of Idaho County, George M. Robertson, of Mount Idaho, is a native of Kaufman County, Texas, his birth having there occurred February 4, 1862. He is of Scotch descent, his great-grandfather, John Robertson, having emigrated from Scotland to New Jersey in colonial days. When the oppression of Great Britain became so intolerable that the colonies rose in rebellion, he joined the American army and served throughout the Revolutionary war, which brought to the nation her independence. He afterward became one of the pioneer settlers of Kentucky, where he spent the remainder of his life. His son, William Robertson, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Kentucky, and removed thence to Missouri, where his active business life was passed. He served as colonel of militia at the time the Mormons were driven out of Jackson County, that state. His son, George W. Robertson, Sr., was born in Missouri, and having arrived at years of maturity married Larcena Van Pool, a native of that state. He was a talented and devoted minister of the Christian church and made the preaching of the gospel of peace his life work. He died in Lewiston, and was called to his final rest in 1889, when fifty-four years of age. His wife, a most estimable lady, departed this life in 1874. They had five children, four sons and a daughter.
George M. Robertson, the third child of the family, was educated at Pea Ridge Academy, Arkansas, and began life on his own account as a farmer and schoolteacher. He came to Idaho in the spring of 1886 and resided near Farmington, and also engaged in educational work and farming. In the fall of 1890 he sold out and came to Camas prairie, locating on a tract of land on the east side of the south fork of the Clearwater river, where he has since developed a good farm that he still owns. He made many excellent improvements on the place and transformed the land into rich and fertile fields. In the fall of 1892 he was elected county surveyor of Idaho County and during his term of office did a large amount of road surveying. In the fall of 1896 he was chosen by his fellow citizens to the office of county treasurer, and on the expiration of his term of two years, was reelected, in 1898, so that he is the present incumbent. In 1898 he also acceptably served as deputy clerk of the county, under C. W. Case. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and keeps well informed on the issues of the day. Socially he is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees.
Mr. Robertson was united in marriage at Farmington, in 1888, to Miss Ora R. Ouarles, daughter of J. P. Quarles, a leading citizen of Nez Perces County. They have three children. Jesse, Leo and Ira. The parents are members of the Christian church.
