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Thomas Marion Eaton (August 3, 1896 – September 16, 1939) was an American businessman and World War I veteran who served briefly as a U.S. Representative from California in 1939.

Biography

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.

World War I

During the First World War served in the United States Navy as an ensign.

Auto business

He moved to Long Beach, California, in 1921 and engaged in the automobile sales business.

Local politics

Eaton was elected to the Long Beach City Council in 1934. He was reelected in 1936, and was unanimously chosen mayor by the council.

Congress

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.

Death and burial

Eaton's seat remained vacant until his elected successor, William Ward Johnson, took office in January 1941. He was interred in Sunnyside Memorial Gardens, later known as Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Long Beach).[1]

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives elections, 1938[2]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas M. Eaton 52,216 48.6
Democratic Byron N. Scott (incumbent) 51,874 48.3
Progressive Solomon Carr 3,384 3.1
Total votes 107,474 100.0
Turnout  
Republican gain from Democratic

See also

References

  1. ^ "Thomas Marion Eaton (1896-1939) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com.
  2. ^ "1938 election results" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2022.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 18th congressional district

January 3, 1939 - September 16, 1939
Succeeded by
Vacant until January 1941
next held by William Ward Johnson
Political offices
Preceded by
Carl Fletcher
12th Mayor of Long Beach
1936 – 1938
Succeeded by

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

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