Henry Heitfeld

Henry Heitfeld (January 12, 1859 – October 21, 1938) was an American politician. A Populist, he served as a United States Senator from Idaho.^[2]

Henry Heitfeld
United States Senator from Idaho
In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1903
Preceded by	Fred Dubois
Succeeded by	Weldon B. Heyburn
Personal details
Born	(1859-01-12)January 12, 1859 St. Louis, Missouri
Died	October 21, 1938(1938-10-21) (aged 79) Spokane, Washington
Resting place	Normal Hill Cemetery Lewiston, Idaho
Political party	Populist
Spouse(s)	Anna M. Jacobs (1861–1923, m.1884)
Children	4 sons, 2 daughters[1]
Residence	Lewiston
Profession	Agriculture

Early life

Anna M. Jacobs

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Heitfeld attended public and private schools there. He moved to Seneca, Kansas, then Pomeroy, Washington Territory, and finally to Lewiston, Idaho Territory, in 1883, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising.^[2][3]

On November 25, 1884, he married Anna M. Jacobs (1861–1923), who was originally from Jacobs Prairie, Minnesota, southwest of St. Cloud.^[1]

Political life

Idaho gained statehood in 1890; Heitfeld was elected to the state senate and served from 1894 to 1897. He was elected as a Populist to the United States Senate in 1896, served a single term, and did not seek reelection in 1902.

Heitfeld was a candidate for governor in 1904 but was defeated by Republican Frank R. Gooding. The following year Heitfeld became mayor of Lewiston, serving until 1909.

From 1914 to 1922, Heitfeld was a registrar of the United States General Land Office at Lewiston. He engaged in fruit growing during this period. At age 71 in 1930, Heitfeld returned to politics as a member of the Nez Perce County Commission, eventually serving as its chair. He retired in 1938 and moved to Spokane, Washington, shortly before his death. He was the last living U.S. senator to have served in the 19th century.

Heitfeld's funeral was in Lewiston at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, and he was buried in Normal Hill Cemetery, next to his wife.^[4][5]