John N. Heiskell

John Netherland Heiskell
United States Senator
from Arkansas
In office
January 6, 1913 – January 29, 1913
Appointed by George Washington Donaghey
Preceded by Jeff Davis
Succeeded by William M. Kavanaugh
Personal details
Born (1872-11-02)November 2, 1872
Rogersville, Tennessee
Died December 28, 1972(1972-12-28) (aged 100)
Little Rock, Arkansas
Political party Democratic

John Netherland Heiskell (November 2, 1872 – December 28, 1972) served in the United States Senate from Arkansas for a brief period in 1913. He was the second U.S. Senator to reach the age of 100.

Biography

Heiskell was born on November 2, 1872 in Rogersville, Tennessee.

Heiskell was a publisher by trade. He owned and edited the Arkansas Gazette from 1902 until his death. The paper garnered two Pulitzer Prizes (one for Meritorious Public Service in 1958) under his editorship. In 1958, Heiskell received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Colby College. He was also President of Gazette Publishing Co.

He was appointed by Governor George Washington Donaghey to fill the vacancy caused by the death of then Senator Jeff Davis. Heiskell served as Senator from Arkansas for a period of just 23 days, from January 6 to January 29, 1913, which remains one of the shortest periods of service ever in the U.S. Senate.[1]

He died on December 28, 1972 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Legacy

Despite his short time in the Senate, Heiskell's longevity eventually made him, not only the oldest living former Senator, but also the last surviving person to have been a Senator in the 1910s.

Heiskell was a grandson of two prominent Tennessee politicians, John Netherland and Frederick Heiskell.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/04/28/vance-mcallister-is-nowhere-near-the-shortest-serving-lawmaker-in-congressional-history/
  2. ↑ Marvin Byrd, A Unionist in East Tennessee: Captain William K. Byrd and the Mysterious Raid of 1861 (The History Press, 2011), pp. 87, 137.
  3. ↑ Nathania Sawyer and John Thompson, "John Netherland Heiskell," Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture, 2012. Retrieved: 26 April 2013.
  • United States Congress. "John N. Heiskell (id: H000457)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • John N. Heiskell at Find a Grave
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Jeff Davis		 U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Arkansas
January 6, 1913–January 29, 1913
Served alongside: James Clarke		 Succeeded by
William M. Kavanaugh
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Henry Ashurst		 Most Senior Living U.S. Senator
(Sitting or Former)
January 5, 1960 – December 28, 1972		 Succeeded by
Burton K. Wheeler
and Clarence Dill
Preceded by
Theodore Green		 Oldest living U.S. Senator
May 19, 1966 – December 28, 1972		 Succeeded by
George Radcliffe
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