John Dykstra was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 1927 to 1934. A Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

, he was defeated for reelection in 1934; he later unsuccessfully ran for Michigan State Senate. Dykstra was born in Holland, Michigan

Holland, Michigan

Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....

, and served as a street railway motorman outside of politics. He was a survivor of the devastating fire at the Kerns Hotel

Kerns Hotel

Kerns Hotel was a 162 room hotel located in the 100 block of N. Grand Ave. in Lansing, Michigan, built in 1909 by William G. Kerns. The hotel cost $50,000 to build and was the first hotel in the state of Michigan that had running ice water....

 in Lansing

Lansing, Michigan

Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...

 on December 11, 1934 which killed six of his fellow representatives, T. Henry Hewlett, Charles D. Parker

Charles Parker (Michigan politician)

Charles Parker was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was one of six members of the state House killed in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing on December 11, 1934. Also killed were representatives D. Knox Hanna, T. Henry Howlett, Vern Voorhees, John W. Goodwine, and Don E. Sias,...

, Vern Voorhees

Vern Voorhees

Vern Voorhees was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was one of six members of the state House killed in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing on December 11, 1934. Also killed were representatives Charles D. Parker, T. Henry Howlett, John W. Goodwine, Don E. Sias, and D. Knox...

, John W. Goodwine

John W. Goodwine

John W. Goodwine was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was one of six members of the state House killed in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing on December 11, 1934. Also killed were representatives Charles D. Parker, T. Henry Howlett, Vern Voorhees, Don E. Sias, and D. Knox Hanna,...

, Don E. Sias

Don E. Sias

Don E. Sias was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was one of six members of the state House killed in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing on December 11, 1934. Also killed were representatives Charles D. Parker, Vern Voorhees, T. Henry Howlett, John W. Goodwine, and D. Knox Hanna,...

, and D. Knox Hanna

D. Knox Hanna

D. Knox Hanna was a member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He was one of six members of the state House killed in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing on December 11, 1934. Also killed were representatives Charles D. Parker, T. Henry Howlett, Vern Voorhees, John W. Goodwine, and Don E....

; also killed was state senator John Leidlein

John Leidlein

John Leidlein was a member of the Michigan State Senate. He was one of those killed in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing on December 11, 1934. Also killed were state representatives Charles D. Parker, Vern Voorhees, T. Henry Howlett, John W. Goodwine, D. Knox Hanna, and Don E. Sias. The men were...

.