Biography of Jennie M. Robnett

This lady is the County superintendent of schools and is one of the most efficient and highly esteemed incumbents of the office that Nez Perces County has been favored with. Her general popularity is evidenced by the majority of five hundred that was given her at the first election, being larger than anyone ever gained before on the Republican ticket.

Jennie M. Robnett was born in Farmington, Dakota County, Minnesota, on March 10, 1874. Her father Jason M. Herrington, was born near New York, in 1843, and his father, Jeremiah Herrington, was a lumberman. Jason M. was too young to enlist in the Civil war but evinced his patriotism in going as bridge constructor for the army. Mrs. Robnett’s mother, Lavinia Sykes, was born in Lexington, Ohio, in 1842. Her father, George W., was born in Pennsylvania and he and his wife were pioneers to Minnesota and experienced the troubles of the Fort Snelling Indian outbreak.

Our subject was educated in the common schools of Farmington and Long Prairie, whither the family removed, and then completed the high school course in Lewiston, after which she taught and then graduated from the State Normal. She manifested true pluck and spirit in this commendable labor, demonstrating that someone besides young men can work their way through college. It was in 1892, that her father decided to come west, and being a lumberman, he located at Lewiston, on account of the immense pine forests of Idaho. In 1898 Miss Herrington graduated from the state normal and was elected principal of the Clarkston schools and contrary to her wish she was elected to the position of County superintendent and so well did she discharge its duties that she was reelected and is now serving her second term.

On February 6, 1900, Miss Herrington was married to Clarence W. Robnett, of Lewiston. He was born August 11, 1872, at Waterbury, Washington, and was educated in Lewiston and Pomeroy. At the age of twenty he accepted a position in the Lewiston National Bank and is now bookkeeper there. Mrs. Robnett has the following named brothers and sisters, Elsworth M., Lafayette, Minnie Herrington, Jerry, Nettie Knight, Nellie Herrington, George, Jason, Lewis, and Gladys. Mr. Robnett has two brothers and two sisters, William M., Mrs. Clara Rainwater, James, and Mamie Akin. To Mr. and Mrs. Robnett there has been born one child, a baby. Mrs. Robinett’s uncles, David, George W., Lewis F. and John Sykes, served in the Civil war and the latter died from injuries received there.

Mrs. Robnett is one of the highly esteemed ladies of the County and has made a worthy record, demonstrating her ability and energy, while she has the esteem and confidence of all.

Back to: Nez Perce Biographies

Source: An Illustrated History of Northern Idaho, Embracing Nez Perce, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone Counties, Western Historical Publishing Company, 1903

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