Lesinski, John
(1885 - 1950)
Congressman, Democratic Party(father of John Lesinski, Jr.), a Representative from Michigan; born in Erie, Pa., January 3, 1885; and three months later moved with his parents to Detroit, Mich.; attended St. Albertus School, St. Cyril and Methodeusz Seminary, Orchard Lake, Mich., and Detroit Business University, Detroit, Mich.; engaged extensively in the building and real estate business in Detroit; established lumber and supply companies in Hamtramck and Dearborn areas of Detroit; president of the Polish Citizens' Committee of Detroit 1919-1932; State commissioner in charge of the sale of Polish bonds in 1920; awarded the Polonia Restituta by the Polish Government; delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1936, 1940, and 1944; delegate to the Democratic State conventions in 1936, 1940, and 1944; elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-third and to the eight succeeding Congresses and served from March 4, 1933, until his death in Dearborn, Mich., May 27, 1950; chairman, Committee on Invalid Pensions (Seventy-fourth through Seventy-ninth Congresses), Committee on Immigration and Naturalization (Seventy-ninth Congress), Committee on Education and Labor (Eighty-first Congress); interment in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Detroit, Mich.
From: Congressional Data Base (2007)
Lesinski, JohnIndustrialist. Congressman. Born January 3, 1885 in Erie, Pa. Attended St. Adalbert's Parochial School, Detroit, Mich. ; secondary education in Polish Seminary, Detroit, and graduated from the Detroit University. Since the age of 18 engaged in the real estate business. Organized the Hamtramck Lumber and Coal Company, The First State Bank of Hamtramck, Mich., and the Dearborn Lumber and Coal Company. During the first World War a member of the Citizens Committee for approximately 13 years. State Commissioner for the first Polish Loan and chairman of a committee that organized the first Polish Congress which was held in Detroit, Mich. Assisted Mr. Paderewski in organizing the Polish White Cross, Chairman of a committee for the reception of Archbishop John Cieplak when he visited Detroit, Michigan, in 1925; of the reception of General Haller and of the First Polish Ambassador Count Lubomirski. Received an award from the Polish Government, of "Polonia Restituta"; instrumental in organizing Haller's Army. Elected to Congress of the U.S. in 1932 was reelected in 1934, 1936, 1938, 1940 and 1942. Member of the Polish Falcons, nest 31, since 1901. Member of the Polish National Alliance, Polish Roman Catholic Union and Knights of Columbus. Resides in Detroit, Mich.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943