John H. Eastman
John H. Eastman | |
---|---|
Mayor of Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, USA | |
In office 1910–1914 | |
Preceded by | Dr. Samuel Augustus Dickson |
Succeeded by | Dr. Samuel Augustus Dickson |
Personal details | |
Born |
Mansfield, DeSoto Parish Louisiana, USA | September 23, 1861
Died |
November 14, 1938 77) Shreveport, Louisiana | (aged
Nationality | American |
Political party | Democratic Party |
Spouse(s) | Nellie Mayo Eastman |
Children | William M. Eastman |
Occupation | Businessman |
John H. Eastman (September 23, 1861 – November 14, 1938) was a businessman who served from 1910–1914 as the mayor of Shreveport, the third largest city in Louisiana and the largest in the northwestern section of the state.[1]
Eastman was born in Mansfield, the seat of DeSoto Parish and the site of the Battle of Mansfield in 1864 during the American Civil War. Eastman earned his living as a tinsmith (or "tinner").[2] In 1898, he established the Vordenbauman-Eastman Hardware Company.[2]
Eastman's mayoral term was the first under Shreveport's city commission government, in effect from 1910 to 1978, when it was replaced by the mayor-council format. Under his administration changes were made in street paving policies to improve the outcome at less cost. Eastman, a Democrat, worked to acquire the Cross Lake area (11,000 acres) at $1.00 per acre. Cross Lake is now the principal Shreveport municipal water source.[3] Eastman also oversaw the enlargement of the Louisiana State Fair grounds and the construction of the grandstand.[2] The fairgrounds are now located along Interstate 20.[4] Eastman also worked to secure the construction of the traffic bridge over the Red River, which connects Shreveport with neighboring Bossier City. It opened in January 1915.[2]
Eastman married the former Nellie Mayo of Lake Charles, and the couple had four children, of whom only one survived, William M. Eastman.[2][5]
Several pieces of new automotive firefighting equipment were named in Eastman's honor, but the City of Shreveport continued during his administration to utilize horse-drawn vehicles too.[6]
References
- ↑ "Claire Taylor, "Census 2010: Lafayette's population up 9.4 percent,"". theadvertiser.com. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Eastman, John H.". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ↑ "Department of Operational Services: 2009 Water Quality Report, March 2010" (PDF). shreveportla.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ↑ "3701 Hudson Avenue (map)". maps.google.com. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ↑ A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography used the book History of Shreveport and Shreveport Builders (1937) by Lilla McLure and J. Ed Howe for its sketch of Mayor Eastman.
- ↑ Municipal Journal, Vol. 33. books.google.com. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
Preceded by Dr. Samuel Augustus Dickson |
Mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana
John H. Eastman |
Succeeded by Dr. Samuel Augustus Dickson |
|