James H. MacLafferty

Who was James H. MacLafferty?

James Henry Maclafferty was a U.S. Representative from California.

Born in San Diego, California, MacLafferty moved with his parents to Oakland, California, in 1874, to Eugene, Oreg., in 1880, to Astoria, Oreg., in 1883, and to Tacoma, Washington, in 1884. He attended the public schools. He entered the lumber business in Tacoma and continued the same in Seattle until 1889. He engaged in the wholesale paper business at Chicago in 1899. He returned to the Pacific coast in 1900 and settled in Oakland, California. He worked as a traveling salesman and in the paper business.

MacLafferty was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-seventh Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John A. Elston. He was reelected to the Sixty-eighth Congress and served from November 7, 1922, to March 3, 1925. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1924 to the Sixty-ninth Congress. He served as assistant to Secretary of Commerce from March 24, 1925, until August 31, 1927. He resumed business activities in Oakland, California. He served as vice president of the Pacific American Steamship Association and of the Shipowners' Association of the Pacific Coast.