Evening star., 1926-01-23
JOHN f. RAKER DIES;
MEMBER OF HOUSE
California Democrat, Elected
in 1911, Succumbs After
Operation.

Representative John T.. Raker, Dem
ocrat, of California, who had served
continuously in Congress since being
elected to the SiXtySecond Congress
| in 1911, died at his home, 100 Mary
land avenue northeast. last night. He
was operated on for ii stomach dis
order about five weeks ago and had
been failing rapidly since that time.
He was 62 years old.
Mr.. Raker, a lawyer, had n long
career in politics, and held many i'm
portant committee assignments in
Congress. He was member of the
House committees on immigration.
naturalization, irrigation, reclamation,
public lands and woman suffrage.
Born on a farm near Knoxville
Knox County, H., Mr.. Raker moved
to Lassen County, Calf, with his
parents when be was 10 years old
He worked on a ranch while attend
ing the public schools and later went
to the State Normal School at San
Jose. Calf, from 1882 to 1884.
Next he studied law in the office
of his future father-in law, Judge f.
Y. Spencer, and later went into part
nerShip with him under the firm name
of Spencer & Raker. The firm soon
became one of the leading law firms
of northern California.
By a special order of the Superior
Court of Lassen County in 1885, be-
fore being admitted to the bar, Mr..
Raker was permitted to act as attor-
ney for defendant in an important
murder trial
Elected Judge i'm 1902.
In 1886 Mr.. Raker moved TO Al
turas. where he had since made his
home. While there he engaged in an
extensive law practice, which extend
ed into Oregon and Nevada In 1894
he was elected district attorney of
Modoc County and served in that ca
pacity for four years.
In 1901 he was attorney for defend
ants IN a criminal case, known as the
Modoc lynChing case. This case be-
came famous in California and the
West, u men having been indicted for
separate murder charges. The trial
commenced in November, 1901, and
ended In March, 1902. when all de-
PENDANTS We're discharged.
Mr.. Raker was elected judge of the
superior Court for the County of
Modoc in 1902 and was reelected in
1908. He resigned in 1910. He was
admitted to the Supreme Court of
oregon. the United States Circuit and
District Courts OF California, United
preine Court of the United States.
lie had long taken a leading part in
Democratic politics in California and
was elected grand sachem of the
democratic Iroquois Clubs of Cali
fornla in 1906 and was reelected in
1907. He also had been elected dele
gate 10 several Democratic State CON
VenuonS and in 1903 was chairman
Oh the Democratic State central COM
mittee.
Mason and Odd Fellow.
As prominent member of the Odd
elbows he was grand master of the
independent Order of Odd Fellows
OF California in 1908 and 1909 and
served as representative to the
Grand Lodge at Seattle. In addition
he was delegate to the Grand
Lodge, T. \. \. NJ. Of California
al several sessions.
He was married to Miss Iva G..
Spencer of California in 1899 He
leaves his widow. two brothers
Clarence a. Raker of Alturas, calf
and David Raker of Milford, Calf
and three sisters, Mrs Lucy A. Gil
man of Susanville. Calf; Mrs. Lottie
Johnson of Sacramento, Calf. and
Mrs. Hattie A. Spencer of Imperial
Calf. -
The body of Mr.. Raker will leave
Washington Wednesday at pm. for
California. 1nterment will be made AZ
Susanville.
There will be no funeral ceremonies
here, but the Speaker of the House
VIII appoint a delegation TO accom-
pahy the pody to the burial place.