John N. Heiskell

Who was John N. Heiskell?

John Netherland Heiskell was the second U.S. Senator to reach the age of 100. He served as Senator from Arkansas for a period of just 23 days, from January 6 to January 29, 1913. He was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of then Senator Jeff Davis.

Heiskell was a publisher by trade. He owned and edited the Arkansas Gazette from 1902 until his death. The paper garnered two Pulitzer Prizes 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..

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 prominent Tennessee politician, John Netherland.