Born in Fayette, Missouri, he attended the common schools and graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1875. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1876 and began practice in Fayette. He moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1879 and continued the practice of law. Beginning in 1889, one of the attorneys he practiced in partnership with for several years was Charles W. Waterman, later a U.S. Senator.[1]
He was city attorney from 1887 to 1891 and was elected as a Republican to the 54th Congress as a representative. He then joined other Colorado officials, such as Senator Henry M. Teller, in leaving the Republicans to join the Silver Republican Party, the third party on whose ticket he was re-elected to the 55th, 56th, and 57th Congresses.[2] To the 58th Congress, he presented credentials as a Democratic member-elect. Thus, he served in the House from March 4, 1895 to his resignation on February 15, 1904, when he declared that fraud in 29 electoral precincts made him unable to assert that he had legitimately won the election and requested for his opponent, Robert W. Bonynge, to replace him.[3] Subsequently, Shafroth was often referred to (sometimes admiringly, sometimes sarcastically) as "Honest John."[4]
Shafroth was Governor of Colorado from 1909 to 1913 and was instrumental in bringing in Colorado's ballot-initiative institutions. In 1912, he was elected as a Democrat to the Senate, where he served one term, from March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1919; he was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1918. While a Senator, Shafroth was chairman of the Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico (63rd to 65th Congresses), the leading Senate sponsor of the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 (which granted citizenship to Puerto Ricans), and a member of the Committee on the Philippines (65th Congress).
Later life and deathedit
After leaving the Senate, he served as chairman of the War Minerals Relief Commission from 1919 to 1921.
He died in 1922 and was interred in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver. His personal and official papers are archived at several locations including the Colorado State Archives (gubernatorial papers), the Colorado Historical Society Library, and the Denver Public Library's Western History and Genealogy Department.
Referencesedit
^Sketches of Colorado. Vol. 1. Denver, CO: Western Press Bureau Company. 1911. p. 167.
^Hagerman, Frank (July 2004). . The Colorado Lawyer. 33 (7): 15. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2013-06-16.
^Very Honest Man Astounds Lower House of Congress, in The Tacoma Times (via Chronicling America); published February 15, 1904; retrieved 2015-01-03.
^Leonard, Stephen J.; Noel, Thomas J.; Walker, Donald L. Jr. (2003). Honest John Shafroth: A Colorado Reformer. University Press of Colorado. ISBN978-0-942576-07-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John F. Shafroth.
Governor John F. Shafroth Collection at the Colorado State Archives
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For his son the United States Navy admiral see John F Shafroth Jr John Franklin Shafroth June 9 1854 February 20 1922 was an American politician who served as a representative member of the United States Senate and Governor of Colorado John Franklin ShafrothUnited States Senatorfrom ColoradoIn office March 4 1913 March 3 1919Preceded bySimon GuggenheimSucceeded byLawrence C Phipps18th Governor of ColoradoIn office January 12 1909 January 14 1913LieutenantStephen R FitzgarraldPreceded byHenry A BuchtelSucceeded byElias M AmmonsMember of theU S House of Representativesfrom Colorado s 1st districtIn office March 4 1895 February 15 1904Preceded byLafe PenceSucceeded byRobert W BonyngePersonal detailsBorn 1854 06 09 June 9 1854Fayette Missouri U S DiedFebruary 20 1922 1922 02 20 aged 67 Denver Colorado U S Political partyRepublican 1895 1897 Silver Republican 1897 1903 Democratic 1903 1922 ChildrenJohn F Shafroth Jr Alma materUniversity of MichiganProfessionLaw Contents 1 Early life 2 Political career 3 Later life and death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editBorn in Fayette Missouri he attended the common schools and graduated from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1875 He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1876 and began practice in Fayette He moved to Denver Colorado in 1879 and continued the practice of law Beginning in 1889 one of the attorneys he practiced in partnership with for several years was Charles W Waterman later a U S Senator 1 His son John F Shafroth Jr later a vice admiral in the U S Navy during World War II was born on 31 March 1887 Political career editHe was city attorney from 1887 to 1891 and was elected as a Republican to the 54th Congress as a representative He then joined other Colorado officials such as Senator Henry M Teller in leaving the Republicans to join the Silver Republican Party the third party on whose ticket he was re elected to the 55th 56th and 57th Congresses 2 To the 58th Congress he presented credentials as a Democratic member elect Thus he served in the House from March 4 1895 to his resignation on February 15 1904 when he declared that fraud in 29 electoral precincts made him unable to assert that he had legitimately won the election and requested for his opponent Robert W Bonynge to replace him 3 Subsequently Shafroth was often referred to sometimes admiringly sometimes sarcastically as Honest John 4 Shafroth was Governor of Colorado from 1909 to 1913 and was instrumental in bringing in Colorado s ballot initiative institutions In 1912 he was elected as a Democrat to the Senate where he served one term from March 4 1913 to March 3 1919 he was an unsuccessful candidate for re election in 1918 While a Senator Shafroth was chairman of the Committee on Pacific Islands and Puerto Rico 63rd to 65th Congresses the leading Senate sponsor of the Jones Shafroth Act of 1917 which granted citizenship to Puerto Ricans and a member of the Committee on the Philippines 65th Congress Later life and death editAfter leaving the Senate he served as chairman of the War Minerals Relief Commission from 1919 to 1921 He died in 1922 and was interred in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver His personal and official papers are archived at several locations including the Colorado State Archives gubernatorial papers the Colorado Historical Society Library and the Denver Public Library s Western History and Genealogy Department References edit Sketches of Colorado Vol 1 Denver CO Western Press Bureau Company 1911 p 167 Hagerman Frank July 2004 John Franklin Shafroth The Colorado Lawyer 33 7 15 Archived from the original on 2012 03 08 Retrieved 2013 06 16 Very Honest Man Astounds Lower House of Congress in The Tacoma Times via Chronicling America published February 15 1904 retrieved 2015 01 03 Leonard Stephen J Noel Thomas J Walker Donald L Jr 2003 Honest John Shafroth A Colorado Reformer University Press of Colorado ISBN 978 0 942576 07 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John F Shafroth Governor John F Shafroth Collection at the Colorado State ArchivesUnited States Congress John F Shafroth id S000279 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress John F Shafroth at Find a GraveParty political officesPreceded byAlva Adams Democratic nominee for Governor of Colorado1908 1910 Succeeded byElias M AmmonsFirst Democratic nominee for U S Senator from Colorado Class 2 1913 1918 Succeeded byAlva B AdamsU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byLafayette Pence Member of the U S House of Representatives from Colorado s 1st congressional district1895 1904 Succeeded byRobert W BonyngePolitical officesPreceded byHenry Augustus Buchtel Governor of Colorado1909 1912 Succeeded byElias Milton AmmonsU S SenatePreceded bySimon Guggenheim U S senator Class 2 from Colorado1913 1919 Served alongside Charles S Thomas Succeeded byLawrence C Phipps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John F Shafroth amp oldid 1174601301, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
