Schuyler Colfax III

Schuyler Washington Colfax III (/ˈskaɪlər ˈkoʊlfæks/; April 11, 1870 – March 29, 1925) was an American Republican politician who served as the 11th mayor of South Bend, Indiana from 1898 to 1902.[1] He assumed office at the age of 28, and remains the youngest person to become mayor in the city's history.[2][3][4]

Schuyler Washington Colfax III
11th Mayor of South Bend, Indiana
In office
1898–1902
Preceded byD. B. J. Schafer
Succeeded byEdward J. Fogarty
Personal details
Born
Schuyler Washington Colfax III

(1870-04-11)April 11, 1870
Washington, D.C., U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 1925(1925-03-29) (aged 54)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Resting placeSouth Bend City Cemetery
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseCatherine Elizabeth Nelson
Children3
Parent(s)Schuyler Colfax
Ellen Maria Wade
ProfessionBusinessman

Colfax was the son of Schuyler Colfax, the 17th Vice President of the United States and 25th Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Background and political career

Born in Washington, D.C. in 1870, Colfax was the son of Schuyler Colfax and Ellen Maria (Ella) Wade, a niece of Senator Benjamin Wade. He was born shortly after his father began his term as vice president.[5]

Colfax was educated in the public schools of South Bend and the Lawrenceville School.[6] He began a business career as head of Colfax Manufacturing, a company that built and sold pony carts.

As Mayor of South Bend, Colfax oversaw the building of the Ballpark Synagogue building and the Potawatomi Zoo, the oldest zoo in Indiana.[7]

In 1906, Colfax moved to Columbus, Ohio to take charge of the Aurora Photographic Paper Company.[6] When the company was sold to Kodak, Colfax and his family moved to Rochester, New York, where Colfax was head of Kodak's cinematographic sales department.[6] He later moved to northern New Jersey, where he ran a chemical manufacturing business.[6]

Colfax volunteered for military service during World War I.[6] He was appointed to the staff of the New York National Guard's adjutant general as inspector of small arms practice with the rank of major.[6] He was discharged from the National Guard at the end of the war.[6]

Family and death
Grave of Colfax in South Bend City Cemetery

In 1895, Colfax married Catherine Elizabeth Nelson. They had three daughters.[8]

Colfax died in 1925[6] and is buried at the City Cemetery in South Bend.[9]

References
  1. "List of South Bend Mayors". The History Museum. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  2. Sloma, Tricia (November 9, 2011). "Pete Buttigieg becomes second youngest mayor in South Bend". South Bend, Indiana: WNDU – Channel 16. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  3. Jack, Colwell (25 August 2011). "How to campaign for an office you've already won" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. 17 (3). Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  4. Colwell, Jack (17 November 2011). "Rep. Fry was hitby a freight train" (PDF). Politics Indiana. 17 (14). Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  5. "The Political Graveyard: Wade-Colfax family". politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  6. "Colfax, Once Sales Link of Kodak, Dead". Democrat and Chronicle. Rochester, NY. March 30, 1925. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Potawatomi Zoo". SBVPA. Retrieved 2019-05-03.
  8. Howard, Timothy Edward (1907). A History of St. Joseph County, Indiana. Lewis publishing Company.
  9. Blasko, Erin. "A matter of grave concern". Notre Dame Insider. Archived from the original on 2019-12-28. Retrieved 2022-11-13.


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