Born in Norfolk, VA on June 26, 1868 to the late John and Malinda Kilman Lesner, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Norfolk County by his father in 1885. He was a Delegate to the National Democratic Convention, Chairman of the School Board of Trustees of Tanner's Creek, State Senator, Director of the Board of Trade, and a member of the following committees: General Laws; Roads and Internal Navigation; Finance; County, Cities, and Towns; and Banking and Insurance. He was proprietor of "Lesner's Garden" in the city of Norfolk, which was a popular zoological and flower garden. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Philip Lesner; a stepmother, Margaret Elizabeth Rehling; and a half-sister, Ruth Lesner Manship.
His family included a wife, Rose Isaac Creekmur Lesner; a brother; William Henry Lesner; three half-brothers; Edward Doolan Lesner, Frederick Krause Lesner, and Charles Blair Lesner; a half-sister, Amy Lesner King; and many nieces and nephews.
Interestingly, when John's friends urged his candidacy for State Senator in 1897, he was elected by an unprecedented large vote, not one vote in his home precinct (Huntersville) being cast against him out of a total vote of 440. The Portsmouth Star, in referring to his election, said, "Such a compliment is rarely accorded a political candidate, even in Virginia, the home of favorite sons ... and is a most signal tribute to those qualities which have brought this former Portsmouth boy to the front in political, as well as business, life."
In 1958, a bridge was constructed over the Lynnhaven Inlet, which was named after State Senator John A. Lesner by the General Assembly for his service on the State Highway Commission.
His family included a wife, Rose Isaac Creekmur Lesner; a brother; William Henry Lesner; three half-brothers; Edward Doolan Lesner, Frederick Krause Lesner, and Charles Blair Lesner; a half-sister, Amy Lesner King; and many nieces and nephews.
Interestingly, when John's friends urged his candidacy for State Senator in 1897, he was elected by an unprecedented large vote, not one vote in his home precinct (Huntersville) being cast against him out of a total vote of 440. The Portsmouth Star, in referring to his election, said, "Such a compliment is rarely accorded a political candidate, even in Virginia, the home of favorite sons ... and is a most signal tribute to those qualities which have brought this former Portsmouth boy to the front in political, as well as business, life."
In 1958, a bridge was constructed over the Lynnhaven Inlet, which was named after State Senator John A. Lesner by the General Assembly for his service on the State Highway Commission.
Born in Norfolk, VA on June 26, 1868 to the late John and Malinda Kilman Lesner, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Norfolk County by his father in 1885. He was a Delegate to the National Democratic Convention, Chairman of the School Board of Trustees of Tanner's Creek, State Senator, Director of the Board of Trade, and a member of the following committees: General Laws; Roads and Internal Navigation; Finance; County, Cities, and Towns; and Banking and Insurance. He was proprietor of "Lesner's Garden" in the city of Norfolk, which was a popular zoological and flower garden. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Philip Lesner; a stepmother, Margaret Elizabeth Rehling; and a half-sister, Ruth Lesner Manship.
His family included a wife, Rose Isaac Creekmur Lesner; a brother; William Henry Lesner; three half-brothers; Edward Doolan Lesner, Frederick Krause Lesner, and Charles Blair Lesner; a half-sister, Amy Lesner King; and many nieces and nephews.
Interestingly, when John's friends urged his candidacy for State Senator in 1897, he was elected by an unprecedented large vote, not one vote in his home precinct (Huntersville) being cast against him out of a total vote of 440. The Portsmouth Star, in referring to his election, said, "Such a compliment is rarely accorded a political candidate, even in Virginia, the home of favorite sons ... and is a most signal tribute to those qualities which have brought this former Portsmouth boy to the front in political, as well as business, life."
In 1958, a bridge was constructed over the Lynnhaven Inlet, which was named after State Senator John A. Lesner by the General Assembly for his service on the State Highway Commission.
His family included a wife, Rose Isaac Creekmur Lesner; a brother; William Henry Lesner; three half-brothers; Edward Doolan Lesner, Frederick Krause Lesner, and Charles Blair Lesner; a half-sister, Amy Lesner King; and many nieces and nephews.
Interestingly, when John's friends urged his candidacy for State Senator in 1897, he was elected by an unprecedented large vote, not one vote in his home precinct (Huntersville) being cast against him out of a total vote of 440. The Portsmouth Star, in referring to his election, said, "Such a compliment is rarely accorded a political candidate, even in Virginia, the home of favorite sons ... and is a most signal tribute to those qualities which have brought this former Portsmouth boy to the front in political, as well as business, life."
In 1958, a bridge was constructed over the Lynnhaven Inlet, which was named after State Senator John A. Lesner by the General Assembly for his service on the State Highway Commission.
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