Education
Born in Davenport, Vollmer attended the public schools of Davenport. He studied law at the University of Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa and Georgetown University in Washington, District of Columbia
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Henry Vollmer
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Career
Winning a special election in 1914, he served just over one year in Congress. Following graduation from high school, he travelled to Washington, District of Columbia to work as a distributing clerk of the Fiftieth Congress in 1887 and 1888. He was admitted to the bar in 1889 and commenced practice in Davenport.
He later became corporation counsel for Davenport in 1913 and 1914.
From 1911 to 1913, Iowa"s 2nd congressional district was represented by Democrat Irvin South. Pepper. Pepper died on December 22, 1913, midway through his second term.
In a special election held in February 1914, Vollmer defeated Republican Harry East. Hull, succeeding Pepper in the Sixty-third Congress. 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.
In all, Vollmer served from February 10, 1914, to March 3, 1915. Vollmer resumed the practice of law, while remaining active in local and state democratic politics. In the late 1920s his family wintered in California while returning to Davenport in the summer.
He died in Piedmont, California, on August 25, 1930.
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As a Congressman, Vollmer defended the Underwood Tariff, and opposed prohibition.
Membership
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.
