John T Carrothers (1867-1899) (sometimes spelled "Carothers") was an early City Council Member. He was on the Council in 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886 and 1887 (still single year terms) and was a Republican. During the election of 1887, which otherwise was quite dull, an anonymous group called "The High License Committee" sent out letters against Carothers on the claim that he had "aided the low liquor license ordinance." This had the effect of getting out the vote for Carothers, and there was no one else on the ballot in the 1st Ward, so Carothers had no trouble getting elected: he won 830 votes and the next closest person on the ballot got 820, followed by 635.6 He was elected to the State Republican Convention in 1884 and also served for four years on the Board of Public Works.1, 4 He served as the "Baggage Master" for the Oakland Ferry2 and for Southern Pacific.3 He was a well-known railroad man, and the San Francisco Chronicle devoted considerable space to both a previous illness5 and his passing, which was also mentioned in national railroad publications. He lived at both 1392 Harrison Street and 1622 8th Street.
References
1. "ALAMEDA REPUBLICANS." Daily Alta California. July 13, 1884. (Carrothers political affiliation)
2. Andrews, A. Report of A Andrews: United States Commissioner for California at the World's industrial and cotton centennial exposition. State Printing: 1886. (available as a free eBook.)
3. "The Railway Age and Northwestern Railroader." Volume 27. (available as a free eBook.)
4. "J T CAROTHERS PASSES AWAY: DEATH OF THE WELL-KNOWN RAILROAD MAN IN OAKLAND." San Francisco Chronicle: March 21, 1899.
5. "SERIOUS ILLNESS OF JOHN T. CAROTHERS: A Prominent Oaklander Sick Unto Death at St Luke's Hospital." San Francisco Chronicle: September 14, 1897.
6. "ACROSS THE BAY: Result of Yesterday's Election." San Francisco Chronicle: December 11, 1887.
