Henry Smith Van Eaton
Encyclopedia
Henry Smith Van Eaton (September 14, 1826 – May 30, 1898) was a U.S. Representative
from the state of Mississippi
.
Van Eaton was born and raised in Anderson Township, Ohio. In 1848, he graduated from Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois
, where he studied law. During this time, he became a founding member of Phi Alpha Literary Society
. While an active member, he served as president and recording secretary.
In 1848, at 22 years, Van Eaton moved to Woodville, Mississippi
, where he taught school. In 1855, he was admitted to the bar
and began practicing law in Woodville, Wilkinson County.
In 1857, Van Eaton was elected district attorney. In 1859, he served as a member of the State House of Representatives.
When the American Civil War
broke out, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army
and served throughout the country, earning the rank of captain.
In 1865, following his service in the war, he resumed the practice of law in Woodville.
In 1880, he was appointed chancellor of the tenth Mississippi district. He was then elected as a Democrat
to the Forty-eighth
and Forty-ninth
Congresses (March 4, 1883–March 3, 1887). In 1887, he was appointed to the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy
at Annapolis, by President Grover Cleveland
. He served as a member of a commission to examine and report upon the last completed portion of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1888.
Van Eaton died in Woodville, Mississippi, May 30, 1898. He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from the state of Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
.
Van Eaton was born and raised in Anderson Township, Ohio. In 1848, he graduated from Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
, where he studied law. During this time, he became a founding member of Phi Alpha Literary Society
Phi Alpha Literary Society
Phi Alpha is a men's Literary Society founded in 1845 at Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois. It conducts Business Meetings, Literary Productions, and other activities in Beecher Hall, the oldest college building in the state of Illinois....
. While an active member, he served as president and recording secretary.
In 1848, at 22 years, Van Eaton moved to Woodville, Mississippi
Woodville, Mississippi
Woodville is a town in and the county seat of Wilkinson County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 1,192 at the 2000 census.The Woodville Republican, a weekly newspaper founded in 1823, is the oldest surviving business in Mississippi.-Geography:Woodville is located at .According to...
, where he taught school. In 1855, he was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and began practicing law in Woodville, Wilkinson County.
In 1857, Van Eaton was elected district attorney. In 1859, he served as a member of the State House of Representatives.
When the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
broke out, he enlisted in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
and served throughout the country, earning the rank of captain.
In 1865, following his service in the war, he resumed the practice of law in Woodville.
In 1880, he was appointed chancellor of the tenth Mississippi district. He was then elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Forty-eighth
48th United States Congress
The Forty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1885, during the last two years...
and Forty-ninth
49th United States Congress
The Forty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1885 to March 4, 1887, during the first two years...
Congresses (March 4, 1883–March 3, 1887). In 1887, he was appointed to the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
at Annapolis, by President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
. He served as a member of a commission to examine and report upon the last completed portion of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1888.
Van Eaton died in Woodville, Mississippi, May 30, 1898. He was interred in Evergreen Cemetery.