Thomas M. Eaton
Encyclopedia
Thomas Marion Eaton served briefly as a U.S. Representative
from California
in 1939.
Born on a farm near Edwardsville, Illinois
, Eaton attended the public schools.
He graduated from the State Normal School (now Illinois State University
) in Normal
in 1917. He served as principal of a grade school in Clinton, Illinois
, in 1917 and 1918. During the First World War served in the United States Navy
as an ensign.
He moved to Long Beach, California
, in 1921 and engaged in the automobile sales business.
Eaton was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 1934. He was reelected in 1936, and was unanimously chosen mayor by the council.
Eaton was elected as a Republican
to the Seventy-sixth
Congress and served from January 3, 1939, until his death in Long Beach, California
, September 16, 1939. Eaton's seat remained vacant until his elected successor, William Ward Johnson
, took office in January 1941. He was interred in Sunnyside Mausoleum.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1939.
Born on a farm near Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
, Eaton attended the public schools.
He graduated from the State Normal School (now Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
) in Normal
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
in 1917. He served as principal of a grade school in Clinton, Illinois
Clinton, Illinois
Clinton is the largest city in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,225 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of DeWitt County.The city and the county are named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York, 1817-1823...
, in 1917 and 1918. During the First World War served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an ensign.
He moved to Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, in 1921 and engaged in the automobile sales business.
Eaton was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 1934. He was reelected in 1936, and was unanimously chosen mayor by the council.
Eaton was elected as 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...
to the Seventy-sixth
76th United States Congress
The Seventy-sixth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1939 to January 3, 1941, during the seventh and...
Congress and served from January 3, 1939, until his death in Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, September 16, 1939. Eaton's seat remained vacant until his elected successor, William Ward Johnson
William Ward Johnson
William Ward Johnson was a U.S. Representative from California.Born in Brighton, Washington County, Iowa, Johnson attended the public schools at Brighton and at Twin Falls, Idaho, and the University of California at Berkeley in 1913 and 1914.He was graduated from the law school of the University...
, took office in January 1941. He was interred in Sunnyside Mausoleum.