Representative John Vandling Lesher

John Vandling Lesher (July 27, 1866 – May 3, 1932) was an American lawyer, businessman, and Democratic politician who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania from 1913 to 1921. Over the course of four consecutive terms in Congress, he represented his constituents during a significant period in American history, contributing to the legislative process in the years surrounding World War I.

Lesher was born on a farm in Blue Hill, Pennsylvania, on July 27, 1866. He was raised in a rural environment and attended the local rural schools of his native county. Seeking further education, he enrolled at the State Normal School at Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, an institution dedicated to training teachers. His early life in an agricultural setting and his formal training as an educator helped shape his understanding of the needs of rural communities and public education.

Before entering the legal profession, Lesher taught school for several years in Union and Snyder Counties, Pennsylvania. He then pursued higher education at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1897. His academic training at Bucknell provided the foundation for his subsequent legal and business career, as well as his later service in public office.

In 1898, during the period of the Spanish–American War, Lesher enlisted in Company K of the Pennsylvania National Guard. When his company was transferred to the Twelfth Regiment, he continued his service and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. He was later promoted to quartermaster with the rank of captain, a position he held until 1902. His military service provided him with administrative and leadership experience that would prove valuable in his later professional and political life.

While advancing his military career, Lesher studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1900. He commenced the practice of law in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, where he established himself as an attorney. In addition to his legal work, he became engaged in banking and real estate development, reflecting a broader interest in business and local economic growth. He also served as assistant district attorney of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, gaining prosecutorial experience and a deeper familiarity with the legal and civic affairs of his region.

Lesher entered national politics as a member of the Democratic Party. In 1912, he was elected as a Democrat to the Sixty-third Congress and subsequently reelected to the three succeeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 1913, to March 3, 1921. During these four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, he participated in the democratic process at a time marked by major domestic reforms and international conflict, including World War I. As a Representative from Pennsylvania, he worked to represent the interests of his constituents while contributing to the broader legislative agenda of the era. In 1920, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to a fifth term.

After leaving Congress in 1921, Lesher returned to Sunbury, Pennsylvania, where he resumed the practice of law. He continued his professional activities in the legal field and remained involved in business pursuits, including banking and real estate, drawing on the experience he had accumulated before and during his congressional service. He lived in central Pennsylvania for the remainder of his life.

John Vandling Lesher died on May 3, 1932, in Danville, Pennsylvania. He was interred in Riverview Cemetery in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. His career encompassed service as an educator, soldier, lawyer, businessman, local prosecutor, and four-term Democratic Representative from Pennsylvania, reflecting a lifelong engagement with public service and community affairs.