Lieutenant Joseph Emmett Stauffer

Joseph Emmet Stauffer, M.L.A., was born at Mannasas, Virginia, in 1874, of Canadian parents, descendants of German Swiss stock who were U.E. loyalists. He came to Canada with his parents when he was very young and received his education at Kitchener (Berlin), Ont., coming to Alberta about fifteen years ago and settling at Didsbury where he taught school, being the first teacher in the present town of Didsbury. After giving up the school, Joe homesteaded a quarter section a few miles east of town and also took up the real estate and insurance business. In the earlier days he was also homestead inspector for a very large stretch of country, and his work at that time made him a large number of friends in the district by his cheerfulness and sympathy in the troubles of the early settlers. The village of Didsbury also received a large share of his attention. He was Secretary of the Board of Trade for some years, and a very active participant in any undertaking for the progress of the town. When the government formed the L.I.D.'s into Municipalities, Joe was made Secretary-Treasurer of Mountain View Municipality by that Council and very largely through his efforts in the first year or two of its existence the foundation of its present prosperity was laid. In 1909 he first campaigned as nominee for the Liberal party for the Didsbury constituency in the local house, one of his opponents being Don Heibert, a former partner and great friend, who had represented the constituency from 1905, defeating Mr. Hiebert (Ind. Cons.) and Mr. Sam Scarlet (Cons.) by a big majority. He was again elected in 1913, his opponent being another former partner and friend, Mr. G.B. Sexsmith. After returning to the Legislature he was made Deputy speaker of the house which position he has held ever since.

Besides his wife, who resides in Didsbury, Joe leaves a mother, two brothers and three sisters who mourn the loss of a loving husband, son and brother who has made the supreme sacrifice for humanity.

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The telegram of ill tidings from the battlefields of Europe was again received in Didsbury on Thursday last when Mrs. J.E. Stauffer received word that her husband, Lieut. J.E. Stauffer, M.L.A., had passed out in action on April 10th. No further particulars have been received but it is generally supposed that he was in the big battle at Vimy ridge, although this was the first definite news that he was even in France, a letter received by Mrs. Stauffer a short time before she received the telegram stating that he expected to leave for France soon.

The news came as a distinct shock to the community because of its entire unexpectedness, as so many of our boys have been at the front for so long before word has been received of their being in action.

His heroic death will go down in the history of Didsbury and Canada as another who made every sacrifice to do his share for the cause of liberty and righteousness. As it is well known he joined the battalion which was formed in the Red Deer district last year, leaving for England last fall. The battalion was split up and put into other units which left most of the officers without positions. But Joe was determined to do his duty and although, according to reports, he had the chance to come back to Canada on recruiting duty in the west he gave up his chance of safety and signed up as a private to go over to France, thereby showing that he was every inch a man when it came to the final decision.

Didsbury and the whole constituency will honor the memory of their late member in the Albert Legislative Assembly of which he had the honor of being Deputy Speaker, and will also extend to Mrs. J.E. Stauffer sincere sympathy in the loss of her brave husband.

Didsbury Pioneer, Wednesday, April 25, 1917, page 1

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Joseph E. Stauffer married Emma Ernst at Didsbury in 1906

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Contributor Donna M L W:
Lieutenant Joseph Emmett Stauffer was the son of the late Benjamin and Mary Stauffer (nee Betzner). He was born on October 29, 1874. He was the husband of Emma Stauffer, of 621, 5th Avenue West, Calgary, Alberta.

Stauffer was elected to the Alberta Legislature in 1909 for the Didsbury district.

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

Stauffer enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in March 1916 in Calgary, Alberta. He served overseas with the Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment) 50th Battalion. 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.

According to his attestation paper, he was born in Nokesville, Virginia, USA and had been residing in Didsbury, Alberta.

The information on the Commonwealth Graves Commission website names his parents as the late Benjamin and Mary (nee Betyner) Stauffer. His wife's place of residence was noted as Calgary, Alberta.

The soldier card erroneously identifies him as Joseph Erb Stauffer.

Source for reference Kitchener Public Library
http://vitacollections.ca/kpl-gsr/2883481/data?n=2* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 10 2023, 23:10:26 UTC