ALDERMAN EATON DIES
SUDDENLY
WAS PREPARING TO ATTEND COUNCIL
MEETING WHEN HE WAS STRICKEN.
CITY IN MOURNING
HAD BEEN IN POOR HEALTH FOR MONTHS.
Earned Name of Being One of Most Ac-
tive and Conscientious in Council.
John Francis Eaton, member of the upper house of the city council and for years a prominent worker among the Democrats of the city, is dead. His death occurred suddenly last night while he was sitting in a chair on the front porch of his home, 3123 Woodland avenue. While Mr. Eaton had been in poor health for some time, his condition was not considered serious either by himself or his friends until yesterday afternoon, when he complained of a pain in his side and remarked that he could not stand the pain much longer. An hour later, about 7 o'clock in the evening, he died.
Just prior to this time Mr. Eaton was talking with his brother, Walter Y. Eaton, who lives nearby. They had been discussing various subjects, and although Mr. Eaton appeared somewhat pale, death was apparently the last subject on either of their minds.
Mr. Eaton's death occurred just before the opening of the council meeting last night, and just as the roll call was being read a message came to that body announcing the death of a fellow member.
It was unanimously agreed that both houses should assemble and then adjourn out of respect to the memory of Mr. Eaton. It was further decided that on the day of the funeral the city hall should be closed in the afternoon and it was ordered that the flag on the hall be hung at half mast for thirty days.
DIDN'T LET POLITICS INFLUENCE HIM.
Alderman Eaton was 58 years old and had lived in Kansas City since 1831. He was born in St. Louis in 1852. When he was one year old his parents removed to Quincy, Ill., where he was educated in the common schools of the city. When 18 years old he started in the book and stationary business and a few years later he became a traveling salesman for a crockery concern in which work he continued until coming to Kansas City when he went into business for himself, taking for his partner L. E. Erwin.
Twelve years ago he retired from the crockery business and engaged in insurance work, which line he followed up to the time of his death.
He was a Democrat, a notable worker in the party and earned for himself the name of being one of the most active and conscientious aldermen in the city. He was greatly interested in securing a municipal appropriation for the new zoological garden at Swope Park. Although being a staunch Democrat, Alderman Eaton had the name of never allowing politics to influence any of his legislative acts. He was the chairman of the finance committee and was associated with the workhouse, public places and building committees.
Twenty-five years ago he was married to Miss Flora McMillan, who survives him. There are no children. Mr. Eaton was a past commander of the K. P. lodge and was a thirty-third degree Mason. In church circles he was well known, being a member of the Grace Episcopal church, where he held the offices of treasurer and vestryman in the church.
