George F. Shafer

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George F. Shafer
16th Governor of North Dakota
In office
January 9, 1929 – December 31, 1932
LieutenantJohn W. Carr
Preceded byWalter Maddock
Succeeded byWilliam Langer
Attorney General of North Dakota
In office
1923–1928
GovernorRagnvald Nestos
Arthur G. Sorlie
Preceded bySveinbjorn Johnson
Succeeded byJames Morris
Personal details
Born(1888-11-23)November 23, 1888
Mandan, Dakota Territory
DiedAugust 13, 1948(1948-08-13) (aged 59)
Bismarck, North Dakota
Political partyRepublican (IVA)

George F. Shafer (November 23, 1888 – August 13, 1948) was an American politician who served as the 17th Governor of North Dakota, serving from 1929 to 1932.

Biography[]

Shafer was educated in Mandan's public school system and attended the University of North Dakota.[1] He married Frances Kellog on September 1, 1915, and they had three sons, George F. Jr., Richard K., and Charles D.; and one daughter, Virginia H. McCormick.[2]

Career[]

Shafer pursued a career in politics and became the State's Attorney for Mckenzie County from 1915 to 1919. Serving as the Assistant Attorney General from 1921 to 1923,[3] he took on a more prominent role in 1923 when he became the North Dakota Attorney General. He served this position until 1929, after defeating incumbent Walter Maddock in the 1928 gubernatorial election. He served as the 16th Governor of North Dakota from 1929 to 1933. During his term, many profound events in the history of North Dakota occurred. The most severe problems facing the state during Shafer's administration were drought and low prices for agricultural products. To his credit, the State Mill and Elevator showed a good profit for the state under Shafer's direction, despite the weather and economic conditions. In 1930, the state capitol (former territorial capitol) burned down. A capital commission was formed to oversee the design and construction of the new capitol, and he was at the groundbreaking ceremony in 1932.

Death[]

Shafer retired from public life after losing the Republican primary election for U.S. Senate against incumbent Gerald P. Nye in 1932.[4] He died in Bismarck, North Dakota on August 13, 1948 at the age of 59. He is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Bismarck, North Dakota.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "George F. Shafer". National Governors Association. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "George F. Shafer". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  3. ^ "George F. Shafer". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 6, 2012.
  4. ^ "Primary Election 06-29-1932" (PDF). North Dakota Secretary of State. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  5. ^ "George F. Shafer". Soylent Communications. Retrieved September 6, 2012.

External links[]


Party political offices
Preceded by
Arthur G. Sorlie
Republican nominee for Governor of North Dakota
1928, 1930
Succeeded by
William Langer
Legal offices
Preceded by
Sveinbjorn Johnson
Attorney General of North Dakota
1923–1928
Succeeded by
James Morris
Political offices
Preceded by
Walter Maddock
Governor of North Dakota
1929–1932
Succeeded by
William Langer
Retrieved from ""