Joseph Stauffer

Lieutenant Joseph Emmett Stauffer (October 29, 1874 – April 10, 1917) was a teacher, politician and soldier from Alberta.

Early life
Stauffer was born October 29, 1874, in Manassas, Virginia, to parents of German-Swiss ancestry. He moved to Canada at a young age with his family, and was educated at Berlin, Ontario. He married Emma Ernst. Stauffer worked as a real estate agent, forest ranger, and Homestead Inspector.

Political career
Stauffer was elected to the Alberta Legislature in the 1909 Alberta legislature. In that election he defeated incumbent Cornelius Hiebert in a landslide in the new Didsbury district.

He was re-elected to a second term in office in the 1913 Alberta legislature, winning with a comfortable but reduced plurality.

Military career
Stauffer enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and served overseas with the Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) 50th Battalion in World War I. He kept his seat in the provincial legislature while he was overseas fighting in the war. On April 10, 1917, he was killed in action during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Lieutenant Governor Robert Brett honored Stauffer's memory and military service by making special note in the Throne Speech at the opening of the 4th Alberta Legislative Assembly on February 7, 1918.

The small town of Stauffer, Alberta is named in his honor.