Gholson Kercheval
Kercheval Gholson 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
Gholson was born in Mason County, Kentucky on December 4, 1805. He was the youngest son of John Kercheval and Jane Kercheval.Life and career in Chicago
Gholson was one of the earliest non-native settlers of Chicago, 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. 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 native nations, for which he was paid $2,000. While sub-agent, he signed the 1833 Treaty of Chicago as a witness. On August 10, 1833, Kercheval voted in the inaugural Chicago town election.During the Black Hawk War, Gholson served as a captain of the Chicago company in the Illinois Militia. He organized the company to defend Chicago and the Rock River Valley during the war. George W. Dole served as first lieutenant in his company.
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.