John C. Schafer
John C. Schafer | |
|---|---|
Photo ca.1927 from the Harris & Ewing collection | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1939 – January 3, 1941 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond J. Cannon |
| Succeeded by | Thaddeus Wasielewski |
| In office March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1933 | |
| Preceded by | John C. Kleczka |
| Succeeded by | Raymond J. Cannon |
| Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 16th district | |
| In office January 3, 1921 – January 1, 1923 | |
| Preceded by | George A. Bowman |
| Succeeded by | Charles B. Perry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Charles Schafer May 7, 1893 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | June 9, 1962 (aged 69) Pewaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Arlington Park Cemetery, Greenfield, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Elsie V. Webster
(m. 1923–1962) |
| Children |
|
| Occupation | Train driver, politician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1919 |
| Unit | 13th Reg. U.S. Engineers |
| Battles/wars | World War I |
John Charles Schafer (May 7, 1893 – June 9, 1962) was an American railroad operator and Republican politician from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. He served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 4th congressional district from 1923 to 1933, and from 1939 to 1941. Initially a member of the progressive faction of Republicans, Schafer fell out with progressive leadership after the death of U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette Sr. and then became a supporter of the stalwart faction. Late in his career, he drifted into extreme anti-communism and was a defender of the Nazi German American Bund in the lead-up to World War II. Schafer was a member of the Steuben Society, a German American group that later came out in favor of Nazism.
Earlier in his career, he served one term in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1921). He was noted for his large physical presence, booming voice, and pompadour hairstyle; he was described as weighing 270 lbs in 1928.