Henry Vollmer

Henry Vollmer (July 28, 1867 – August 25, 1930) was an attorney and politician who served as the mayor of Davenport, Iowa, and as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Iowa's 2nd congressional district. Winning a special election in 1914, he served just over one year in Congress.

Biography Born in Davenport, Vollmer attended the public schools of Davenport. Following graduation from high school, he travelled to Washington, D.C. to work as a distributing clerk of the Fiftieth Congress in 1887 and 1888.

He studied law at the University of Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa, and Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

Early career He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and commenced practice in Davenport.

He served as member of the board of aldermen of Davenport in 1889, as mayor of Davenport from 1893 to 1897, and as a member of the board of education in Davenport from 1898 to 1901. He later became corporation counsel for Davenport in 1913 and 1914.

Congress From 1911 to 1913, Iowa's 2nd congressional district was represented by Democrat Irvin S. Pepper. Pepper died on December 22, 1913, midway through his second term. In a special election held in February 1914, Vollmer defeated Republican Harry E. Hull, succeeding Pepper in the Sixty-third Congress. As a Congressman, Vollmer defended the Underwood Tariff, and opposed Prohibition.

Less than two months after winning the special election, Vollmer announced that he would not seek re-election in the regular election in November 1914. Vollmer attributed his decision to family considerations, but Republicans attributed it to the unpopularity in his district of the Underwood tariff. The 1917 jury trial resulted in a hung jury, and on the retrial, Fred Vollmer pleaded guilty, paid a fine, and moved to the Los Angeles area.

Henry Vollmer's fiery speeches continued to attract criticism from his opponents and kudos from his supporters.

Death He died in Piedmont, California, on August 25, 1930 at the age of 63. His remains were cremated and the ashes placed in a crypt in the California Crematorium, now the Chapel of the Chimes, in Oakland, California.