Robert N. Stanfield

American politician from Oregon (1877–1945)

Robert Nelson Stanfield Jr (July 9, 1877April 13, 1945) was an American Republican politician and rancher from the state of Oregon who served in the Oregon House of Representatives (1912–1918) including as Speaker (1917–1918) and was later elected United States Senator for Oregon (1921–1927).

Robert Nelson Stanfield Jr was born near the city of Umatilla, in Eastern Oregon on July 9, 1877, the first son of Harriet Thankful Townsend and Robert N. Stanfield Sr, the owner of a livery stable and freighting company. He lived in Umatilla until 1882 when his family moved to Pendleton, where his father ran a freight forwarding business. In 1885, the family moved to the former Buel Atwood place on Butter Creek, near Echo, Oregon. After the family moved to Butter Creek, he attended school at the Thomson School and then at the Butter Creek School built on land his father donated to the school district. In the fall of 1895, he enrolled in the state normal school at neighboring Weston. He was also involved in banking in Echo and Baker. During World War I his flocks were estimated to include 350,000 head of sheep, making him the world's largest sheep rancher. He continued in the state house through 1917, serving as Speaker during the 1917 session. When he ran for re election, his major opponents were the WCTU and the KKK. His admiring cowboy constituency could not elect him. He lost to Steiwer a second time. He ran in the 1928 primary to be a candidate for Representative and was defeated again. After Congress he returned to Oregon and resumed his former business pursuits, and in 1945 died in Weiser, Idaho. Robert Stanfield was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery. He was survived by his wife, Inez Hill and one daughter, Barbara.