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	September 23, 1861 Mansfield, DeSoto Parish Louisiana, USA
Died	November 14, 1938 (aged 77) Shreveport, Louisiana
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

1. "Claire Taylor, "Census 2010: Lafayette's population up 9.4 percent,"". theadvertiser.com. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
2. "Eastman, John H.". Louisiana Historical Association, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
3. "Department of Operational Services: 2009 Water Quality Report, March 2010" (PDF). shreveportla.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
4. "3701 Hudson Avenue (map)". maps.google.com. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
5. 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.
6. Municipal Journal, Vol. 33. books.google.com. Retrieved February 2, 2011.