John C. Kleczka
John C. Kleczka | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 4th district | |
| In office March 4, 1919 – March 3, 1923 | |
| Preceded by | William J. Cary |
| Succeeded by | John C. Schafer |
| Member of the Wisconsin Senate | |
| In office 1909–1911 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Casimir Kleczka May 6, 1885 Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Died | April 21, 1959 (aged 73) Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Marquette University |
John Casimir Kleczka (May 6, 1885 – April 21, 1959) was a U.S. Representative from Wisconsin. He was the first Polish American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Early life[]
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kleczka attended the parochial schools. He was graduated from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1905. He took postgraduate courses at Catholic University at Washington, D.C., and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1909 and commenced practice in Milwaukee.
Political and law career[]
He served in the Wisconsin State Senate 1909–1911.[1] He served as delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1912. He served as commissioner of the circuit court of Milwaukee County 1914–1918. He was a major judge advocate in the United States Army Reserves after the First World War.
Kleczka was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seventh congresses (March 4, 1919 – March 4, 1923) as the representative of Wisconsin's 4th congressional district.[2] He did not seek renomination in 1922 but returned to the practice of law.
After retirement, Kleczka was elected circuit court judge in 1930 and served until his retirement due to ill health in 1953. He was appointed a conciliation judge and court commissioner by the circuit judges in 1957 and served until his death.
Death[]
He died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, April 21, 1959.[3] He was interred in St. Adalbert's Cemetery.
Notes[]
- ^ "Biographical Sketches". Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. State of Wisconsin. 1909. p. 1096. Retrieved July 1, 2020 – via Google Books.
- ^ 'Wisconsin Blue Book 1921,' Biographical Sketch of John Klecza, pg. 243
- ^ "Judge Kleczka, Milwaukee, Dies". The Capital Times. Milwaukee. AP. April 22, 1959. p. 2. Retrieved July 3, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
Sources[]
- United States Congress. "John C. Kleczka (id: K000260)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
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- 1885 births
- 1959 deaths
- American Roman Catholics
- Catholic University of America alumni
- Wisconsin state court judges
- Wisconsin state senators
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin
- University of Wisconsin Law School alumni
- Marquette University alumni
- United States Army officers
- Military personnel from Wisconsin
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- American people of Polish descent
- Polish-American history
- Wisconsin Republicans
- Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- 20th-century American judges
- Politicians from Milwaukee
- 20th-century American politicians