Rev. John B. Lessmann, S.J. was born June 14, 1825 and entered the Society of Jesus on November 5, 1851.
In 1861, he was the Minister of the Community at Moguntum and in 1868 was the Superior at Aachen. In 1869, he was Father Socius to the Provincial and in 1870, a parish priest at Feldkirch. In this same, year he was sent as a visitor by Pope Pius IX to India and the following year was appointed Instructor of Tertians in India. He returned to Holland and lived with the Father Provincial at Blyenbeck.
On November 21, 1876, he was appointed Superior of the Buffalo Mission and Superior of the Canisius Comunity. In 1886, he was transferred to Saint Ann's church and engaged in local Missionary work. The Maryland-New York Province summoned him in 1890 to Frederick, MD, where he became Instructor of Tertians. In 1893, Father Lessmann was appointed Master of Novices at Prairie du Chien, WI, and was relieved of this office to become Spiritual Father in 1897.
Father Lessmann died on August 1, 1899, at 75 years of age. He spent 48 years as a member of the Society of Jesus.
