Gholson Kercheval
Gholson Kercheval | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois General Assembly | |
| In office 1838–1840 | |
| Cook County Commissioner | |
| In office March 1831 – ~1832 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Sub-agent of Indian Affairs at Chicago | |
| In office 1831–1833 | |
| Appointed by | United States Senate |
| Agent | Thomas Jefferson Vance Owen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 4, 1805 Mason County, Kentucky |
| Died | July 17, 1875 (aged 69) San Francisco, California |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Blanche Felicite Hotchkiss
(m. 1833) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents |
|
| Occupation | Pioneer, politician, negotiator |
Kercheval Gholson (December 4, 1805 – July 17, 1875) was an American politician who was an early settler of Chicago, and served as an Indian agent and a member of the Illinois House of Representatives. In his later life, he moved to California.
Early life
[edit]Gholson was born in Mason County, Kentucky on December 4, 1805.[1] He was the youngest son of John Kercheval and Jane Kercheval (née Berry).[2]
Life and career in Chicago
[edit]Gholson was one of the earliest non-native settlers of Chicago,[1][2] Illinois, arriving in approximately 1830. In March 1831, he was sworn-in as one of the inaugural three Cook County Commissioners. From 1831 through 1833, he worked as a sub-agent of Indiana Affairs at Chicago, working as a deputy to his brother-in-law Thomas Jefferson Vance Owen (Chicago's Indian agent). While holding this role, he worked on behalf of the United States federal government as a mediator in its negotiations with the Sauk and Fox (Meskwaki) native nations, for which he was paid $2,000.[1] While sub-agent, he signed the 1833 Treaty of Chicago as a witness.[3] On August 10, 1833, Kercheval voted in the inaugural Chicago town election.[4]
During the Black Hawk War, Gholson served as a captain of the Chicago company in the Illinois Militia.[1] He organized the company to defend Chicago and the Rock River Valley during the war.[2] George W. Dole served as first lieutenant in his company.[5]
In August 1838 he was elected to serve as a as a Democratic Party member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing a constituency in Cook, McHenry, and Will Counties. He served until 1840.[1]
Later life in California
[edit]In 1850, Kerchaval and his family moved to the state of California. Kerchaval died there in the city of San Francisco on July 17, 1875.[1]
Personal life, family, descendants
[edit]On November 25 1833, Kercheval wed Blanche Felicite Hotchkiss in Kaskaskia, Illinois.[1][2] Together, they had two sons. Only one of their sons, Walter Gholson Kerchival, lived to adulthood. He married Clarissa Agnes Doud, and had a single child (daughter Blanche Felicitie Kerchival, who married Oma Carr and had two sons: Hugh R. Kerchival Carr and Lee Kercheval Carr).[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "Kercheval, Gholson". PapersOfAbrahamLincoln.org. Papers of Abraham Lincoln Digital Library. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Parry, Guerdon Groves; Carr, Lee Kercheval (1924). "Something About the Kercheval Family". Register of Kentucky State Historical Society. 22 (65): 195–202. ISSN 2328-8183. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ "Treaty With The Chippewa, Etc., 1833". Tribal Treaties Database. Oklahoma State University Libraries. September 26, 1833. Retrieved August 28, 2022.
- ^ "Town of Chicago". Chicagology. Retrieved June 23, 2025.
- ^ "Papers Of Abraham Lincoln". PapersOfAbrahamLincoln.org. Papers of Abraham Lincoln Digital Library. Retrieved June 23, 2025.