Zina R. Carter

Zina Roscoe Carter^[a] (1846–1922) was an American businessman and politician who served as the president of the Sanitary District of Chicago Board of Trustees as well as a Chicago alderman. He was the unsuccessful Republican Party nominee for mayor of Chicago in 1899. He also served as president of the Chicago Board of Trade for the year 1898.

Zina R. Carter
Carter circa 1900
President of the Sanitary District of Chicago Board of Trustees
In office 1903–1905
Preceded by	Thomas A. Smyth[1]
Succeeded by	Charles H. Sergel[1]
Trustee of the Sanitary District of Chicago
In office 1896–1905
Chicago Alderman from the 10th ward
In office 1895–1896 Serving with Fred C. Engel
Preceded by	John F. Dorman
Succeeded by	August W. Miller
Personal details
Born	(1846-10-23)October 23, 1846 Jefferson County, New York
Died	April 19, 1922(1922-04-19) (aged 75) Chicago, Illinois
Resting place	Rosehill Cemetery
Political party	Republican
Relatives	Orrin N. Carter (brother)
Occupation	Businessman, politician
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Early life and family

Carter was born on a farm in Jefferson County, New York, on October 23, 1846.^[3][4] When he was 16, he moved with his family to DuPage County, Illinois.^[2][4]

Carter had four siblings – Orrin, Alpheus, Benajah, and Armada.^[2]

Business career

Carter moved to Chicago in 1871. There, he founded the Z. R. Carter and Bro. feed and flour business.^[5]

Carter was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade for nearly four decades.^[5] He served as its president in 1898.^[4][6]

Political career

Chicago alderman

In 1895, Carter was elected a member of the Chicago City Council from the tenth ward.^[5][7]

Sanitary District of Chicago board of trustees

Having been elected to the Sanitary District of Chicago board of trustees in the November 5, 1895 election,^[1] Carter resigned from the Chicago City Council in January 1896 to assume his new office.^[8] He was reelected to the board of trustees on November 5, 1900.^[1]

In 1899, Carter was the Republican Party's nominee for mayor of Chicago. He lost the election to Carter Harrison IV^[9]

In November 1903, an agreement was reached that the board would elect Carter would be voted by the Sanity District's board as its president on December 8, 1903.^[1][10] He served in this position until December 4, 1905, when his tenure on the board of trustees altogether ended.^[1][5]

Later career

Carter was appointed by Mayor Fred A. Busse in May 1907 to the Chicago Civil Service Commission.^[11]

Death

Carter's grave (front left) at Rosehill Cemetery

After a brief illness, Carter died at the age of 75 on April 19, 1922, at Chicago's Columbus Hospital. He was buried at Rosehill Cemetery.^[5]

Notes

1. Growing up, his family pronounced his name "Zeena", but as an adult he preferred "ZINE-ah".^[2]