Henry H. Schwartz

Henry Herman "Harry" Schwartz (May 18, 1869  April 24, 1955) was an American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming.

Henry Herman Schwartz
United States Senator
from Wyoming
In office
January 3, 1937  January 3, 1943
Preceded byRobert D. Carey
Succeeded byEdward V. Robertson
Member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
In office
1897–1898
Personal details
Born(1869-05-18)May 18, 1869
Fort Recovery, Ohio
DiedApril 24, 1955(1955-04-24) (aged 85)
Casper, Wyoming
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Eliza Bowie Mathews (1891–1978)

Schwartz was born on a farm near Fort Recovery, Mercer County, Ohio, and was educated in the public schools of Mercer County and Cincinnati, Ohio. Schwartz engaged in the newspaper business at Fort Recovery from 1892 to 1894 and at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, from 1894 to 1896. Schwartz studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1895, and commenced practice in Sioux Falls.

Henry Schwartz with Wyoming map in map

Schwartz's political career started in the South Dakota House of Representatives, serving from 1897 to 1898, where he was elected on the Fusion ticket. He served as chief of the field division of the United States General Land Office at Spokane, Washington, and Helena, Montana, from 1897 to 1907. Schwartz was special assistant to the Attorney General in 1907; and chief of field service, General Land Office in Washington, D.C., from 1907 to 1910.

In 1915, Schwartz moved to Casper, Wyoming, with wife Eliza Bowie Mathews. He served as president of the Casper Board of Education and the Natrona County High School Board from 1928 to 1934. Schwartz was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the United States Senate in 1930, but he served as a member of the Wyoming Senate from 1933 to 1935 and was elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate in 1936 and served from January 3, 1937, to January 3, 1943. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1942.

During his term as a U.S. Senator, Harry Schwartz played a key role in opening the door to black military pilots in WWII. In 1939, Public Law 18 appropriated funds to expand pilot training, and Schwartz was able to add an amendment to required some aviation equipment be loaned to schools for the training of black military pilots. When the War Department and the Army Air Corps (AAC) did not follow through on this amendment, Schwartz made visits to General Arnold and others to demand that black pilots be trained.

Also, during his term, Schwartz was chairman of the Committee on Pensions (Seventy-seventh Congress). He was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the National Mediation Board, serving from 1943 to 1947. He resumed the practice of law in Casper, Wyoming, until his death there on April 24, 1955. He was interred in Highland Cemetery.

  • Media related to Henry H. Schwartz at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official Congressional Directory entry for Wyoming Senator H.H. (Harry) Schwartz
  • Henry Schwartz's record in the South Dakota State Legislature's Historical Listing
  • United States Congress. "Henry H. Schwartz (id: S000157)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Cooper, Charlie, Ann Cooper, and Roy La Grone. Tuskegee's heroes: featuring the aviation art of Roy LaGrone. NY, NY: Crestline, 2015.
  • Henry H. Schwartz at Find a Grave
Party political offices
Preceded by
Robert R. Rose
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Wyoming
(Class 2)

1930, 1936, 1942
Succeeded by
Lester C. Hunt
U.S. Senate
Preceded by
Robert D. Carey
U.S. senator (Class 2) from Wyoming
1937-1943
Succeeded by
Edward V. Robertson
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.