George Schafer was born on November 23, 1888 in Mandan, Dakota Territory. Shafer pursued a career in politics and became the State's Attorney for McKenzie County from 1915 to 1919 and lived in Watford City. He took on a more prominent role in 1922 when he became the North Dakota Attorney General prior to serving as the Assistant Attorney General from 1921 to 1922.
He served this position until 1929, after defeating incumbent Walter Maddock in the 1928 election for Governor of North Dakota. He served as the Governor of North Dakota from 1929 to 1933. During his term, many profound events in the history of North Dakota occurred. The most severe problems facing the state during Shafer's administration were drought and low prices for agricultural products. To his credit, the State Mill and Elevator showed a good profit for the state under Shafer's direction, despite the weather and economic conditions.
On December 28, 1930, the Capitol building burned down, probably started by spontanous ignition of oily rags piled in a janitor's closet. The rags had been used to clean and varnish legislators' desks in preparation for the January 6, 1931 opening legislative session. The fire broke out on the top floor of the four-story Capitol and ate its way downward, devouring records dating back to the days of Dakota Territory. The building was erected in 1883 as the seat of government for Dakota Territory.
Governor Shafer came back from a trip to St. Paul while the fire was burning. He immediately convened a team of state leaders to discuss emergency steps for coping with the loss of state records and work space. A capitol commission, lead by former Mandanite Frank Anders, was formed to oversee the design and construction of the new capitol. Construction on a new Capitol began in 1932 and was completed in 1934 for $2 million.
Shafer retired from public life after losing the 1932 election to William Langer, another former resident of Mandan. He died in Bismarck, North Dakota on August 13, 1948 at the age of 59.
