John Cornelius Butler (July 2, 1887–August 13, 1953) was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

politician from New York. He was most notable for his service as a member of the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from 1941 to 1949 and 1951 to 1953.

Biography

Butler was born in

Buffalo, New York Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York (behind only New York City) and the seat of Erie County. It is at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, and is across the Canadian border from Sou ...

on July 2, 1887. He attended the public schools of Buffalo and graduated from Buffalo's Central High School. Butler worked in businesses on Buffalo's

Lake Erie Lake Erie ( "eerie") is the fourth largest lake by surface area of the five Great Lakes in North America and the eleventh-largest globally. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes and therefore also h ...

waterfront, primarily as an electrician. He later became active in several unions, including the longshoremen's, grain elevator employees', and electrical workers'. In 1941, Butler was elected to the U.S. House as a Republican in the special election held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of

Pius Schwert Pius Louis Schwert (November 22, 1892 – March 11, 1941) was an American politician and professional baseball player. He played for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball and was a member of the United States House of Representatives fro ...

. He served from April 22, 1941, until January 3, 1949. He failed to be reelected in 1948. After losing his seat, Butler was employed as sales manager for the Fire Equipment Sales Company and estimator for the Beacon Electrical Engineering and Construction Company, both of Buffalo. In 1950, Butler was again elected to the U.S. House, and he served from January 3, 1951, to January 3, 1953. Because his district was eliminated after the 1950 census, in 1952 Butler ran in the 42nd District, where he lost the Republican nomination to John R. Pillion. As a member of Congress, Butler was best known for his opposition to the

Saint Lawrence Seaway The St. Lawrence Seaway (french: la Voie Maritime du Saint-Laurent) is a system of locks, canals, and channels in Canada and the United States that permits oceangoing vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes of North Ameri ...

, which he believed would have a detrimental effect on Buffalo's shipping and cargo handling industries. After leaving Congress, Butler lived in retirement in Buffalo. He died in Buffalo on August 13, 1953. He was buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo. In 1908, Butler was married to Frances T. Pachowiak (d. 1971). They were the parents of three sons, George, John, and Henry.

References

External links

* * 1887 births 1953 deaths Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) 20th-century American politicians Burials at Forest Lawn Cemetery (Buffalo) {{NewYork-Representative-stub