Thomas M. Eaton

Thomas M. Eaton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from California's 18th district
In office January 3, 1939 – September 16, 1939
Preceded by	Byron N. Scott
Succeeded by	William Ward Johnson
Personal details
Born	Thomas Marion Eaton (1896-08-03)August 3, 1896 near Edwardsville, Illinois, US
Died	September 16, 1939(1939-09-16) (aged 43) Long Beach, California, US
Political party	Republican
Profession	Automobile sales

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.

Eaton's seat remained vacant until his elected successor, William Ward Johnson, took office in January 1941.

Electoral history

United States House of Representatives elections, 1938[1]

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

• List of United States Congress members who died in office (1900–49)

References

1. "1938 election results" (PDF). Retrieved November 20, 2022.

• United States Congress. "Thomas M. Eaton (id: E000026)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Byron N. Scott	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 Clarence E. Wagner

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