John Henry Kinkead
Encyclopedia
John Henry Kinkead was an American businessman and politician who served as the third Governor of Nevada
and the first Governor of the District of Alaska
. Spending most of his life in the dry goods
business, he was also Treasurer of Nevada Territory
, a member of the Nevada Constitutional convention, and the first United States official to hold office in Alaska.
on October 10, 1826 to Catherine (Bushey) and James S. Kinkead. He attended elementary school in Zanesville, Ohio
and high school in Lancaster, Ohio
. At age 18, Kinkead became a clerk at a dry goods
store. In 1849, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where, with I. M. Livingston, he founded the dry goods firm Livingston & Kinkead.
In 1854 Kinkead moved to California, working at various jobs before settling in Marysville
. There, on January 1, 1856, he married Elizabeth Falls. The marriage produced no children. During 1856, Kinkead attempted to establish a dry goods business in New York City. Unsuccessful in this effort, he returned to California at the end of the year. There Kinkead suffered a series of business setbacks.
. While operating his dry goods store, he became involved in the organization of Nevada Territory
. Kinkead was appointed Nevada's first Territorial Treasurer, a position he held from 1862 to 1864, and in 1864 served as a member of the Nevada Constitutional Convention.
By mid-1867, Kinkead was without work and journeyed to Alaska
with the "Occupancy" Commission. As part of the commission, he witnessed the transfer of Alaska from Russia
n to American possession. He also became the first United States official to hold office in Alaska when he was appointed postmaster
by President Andrew Johnson
. In addition to his postal duties, Kinkead operated a trading post
and served as Sitka, Alaska's unofficial mayor.
. There he engaged in various milling, mining, and mercantile efforts within Humboldt
and Lander
counties. His efforts during this period included founding Washoe City
, building smelters in Pleasant Valley
and Austin
, and becoming an early promoter
for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
.
Running on the Republican
ticket, Kinkead was elected Governor of Nevada for the term running from January 1, 1879 to January 1, 1883. While in office he supported mining efforts, creation of toll roads, and the interests of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. At the end of his term, the governor declined to run for reelection.
Acting on the recommendation of U.S. Senator John P. Jones
, President Chester Arthur appointed Kinkead as governor of the new formed District of Alaska
on July 4, 1884. Arriving at his new post in early September, his only gubernatorial report was submitted in October. In the report he asked for establishment of a legal code
and creation of a tax collection agency for the district, a boat to allow the governor to travel within Alaska, expanded financial aid, and initiation of new mail services.
During his term, Kinkead suffered a broken arm
and a stroke. He also had to deal with a rift between himself and influential Presbyterian missionary Sheldon Jackson
, who differed with the governor on the trustworthiness of the district's mining interests. Upon the instigation of the Alaskan District Attorney, the missionary was arrested on trumped up charges. The resulting scandal gained national attention with the governor receiving a portion of the blame for the incident. Kinkead submitted his resignation on May 9, 1885.
After leaving office, Kinkead returned to Carson City, Nevada
and resumed his mining and mercantile efforts. He died on August 15, 1904 and was buried in the Lone Mountain Cemetery.
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
and the first Governor of the District of Alaska
District of Alaska
The District of Alaska was the governmental designation for Alaska from May 17, 1884 to August 24, 1912, when it became Alaska Territory. Previously it had been known as the Department of Alaska. At the time, legislators in Washington, D.C., were occupied with post-Civil War reconstruction issues,...
. Spending most of his life in the dry goods
Dry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
business, he was also Treasurer of Nevada Territory
Nevada Territory
The Territory of Nevada was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until October 31, 1864, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Nevada....
, a member of the Nevada Constitutional convention, and the first United States official to hold office in Alaska.
Background
Kinkead was born in Smithfield, PennsylvaniaSmithfield, Pennsylvania
Smithfield is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 854 at the 2000 census. It is served by the Albert Gallatin Area School District. The town's largest employer is a small wire producing plant run by Nelson Steel....
on October 10, 1826 to Catherine (Bushey) and James S. Kinkead. He attended elementary school in Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville, Ohio
Zanesville is a city in and the county seat of Muskingum County, Ohio, United States. The population was 25,586 at the 2000 census.Zanesville was named after Ebenezer Zane, who had constructed Zane's Trace, a pioneer road through present-day Ohio...
and high school in Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster, Ohio
Lancaster is a city in Fairfield County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,780. It is located near the Hocking River, approximately southeast of Columbus, Ohio. It is the county seat of Fairfield County...
. At age 18, Kinkead became a clerk at a dry goods
Dry goods
Dry goods are products such as textiles, ready-to-wear clothing, and sundries. In U.S. retailing, a dry goods store carries consumer goods that are distinct from those carried by hardware stores and grocery stores, though "dry goods" as a term for textiles has been dated back to 1742 in England or...
store. In 1849, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah where, with I. M. Livingston, he founded the dry goods firm Livingston & Kinkead.
In 1854 Kinkead moved to California, working at various jobs before settling in Marysville
Marysville, California
Marysville is the county seat of Yuba County, California, United States. The population was 12,072 at the 2010 census, down from 12,268 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Yuba City Metropolitan Statistical Area, often referred to as the Yuba-Sutter Area after the two counties, Yuba and...
. There, on January 1, 1856, he married Elizabeth Falls. The marriage produced no children. During 1856, Kinkead attempted to establish a dry goods business in New York City. Unsuccessful in this effort, he returned to California at the end of the year. There Kinkead suffered a series of business setbacks.
Early political career
Prompted by the discovery of silver in the area, Kinkead moved to Carson City, Utah TerritoryCarson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
. While operating his dry goods store, he became involved in the organization of Nevada Territory
Nevada Territory
The Territory of Nevada was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until October 31, 1864, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Nevada....
. Kinkead was appointed Nevada's first Territorial Treasurer, a position he held from 1862 to 1864, and in 1864 served as a member of the Nevada Constitutional Convention.
By mid-1867, Kinkead was without work and journeyed to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
with the "Occupancy" Commission. As part of the commission, he witnessed the transfer of Alaska from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n to American possession. He also became the first United States official to hold office in Alaska when he was appointed postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
by President Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States . As Vice-President of the United States in 1865, he succeeded Abraham Lincoln following the latter's assassination. Johnson then presided over the initial and contentious Reconstruction era of the United States following the American...
. In addition to his postal duties, Kinkead operated a trading post
Trading post
A trading post was a place or establishment in historic Northern America where the trading of goods took place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, was known as a trade route....
and served as Sitka, Alaska's unofficial mayor.
Governorships
Kinkead returned to Nevada in 1871, settling in the town of UnionvilleUnionville, Nevada
Unionville is a small hamlet in Pershing County, Nevada, with the most recent population estimate being approximately 20 people. The town's best years were during the 1870s, when it was an active mining and prospecting town serving the surrounding hilly region. For a brief time, Samuel Langhorne...
. There he engaged in various milling, mining, and mercantile efforts within Humboldt
Humboldt County, Nevada
Humboldt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of 2007, the population was estimated to be 18,052. Its county seat is Winnemucca.The county was the site of an arrest in 2000 that led to the U.S. Supreme Court decision Hiibel v...
and Lander
Lander County, Nevada
Lander County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 5,794. Its county seat is Battle Mountain.-History:...
counties. His efforts during this period included founding Washoe City
New Washoe City, Nevada
New Washoe City is an unincorporated community located in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. New Washoe City is located in the Washoe Valley in southern Washoe County between Reno and Carson City, on the east side of Washoe Lake. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, building smelters in Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley, Nevada
Pleasant Valley is a very small, unincorporated community in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The ZIP Code for Pleasant Valley is 89511. The community is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area, and US Route 395 runs through it, and acts as a divider between the eastern and...
and Austin
Austin, Nevada
Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada, in the United States. As of 2004, its population is approximately 340. It is located on the western slopes of the Toiyabe Range at an elevation of . U.S...
, and becoming an early promoter
Corporate promoter
A corporate promoter is a person who solicits people to invest money into a corporation, usually when it is being formed. An investment banker, an underwriter, or a stock promoter may, wholly or in part, perform the role of a promoter...
for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad
Virginia and Truckee Railroad
The Virginia and Truckee Railroad was built to serve the Comstock Lode mining communities of northwestern Nevada. At its height, the railroad's route ran from Reno south to Carson City, Nevada. In Carson City, the...
.
Running on the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
ticket, Kinkead was elected Governor of Nevada for the term running from January 1, 1879 to January 1, 1883. While in office he supported mining efforts, creation of toll roads, and the interests of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. At the end of his term, the governor declined to run for reelection.
Acting on the recommendation of U.S. Senator John P. Jones
John P. Jones
John Percival Jones was an American politician who served for 30 years as a Republican United States Senator from Nevada. He made a fortune in silver mining and was a co-founder of the town of Santa Monica, California....
, President Chester Arthur appointed Kinkead as governor of the new formed District of Alaska
District of Alaska
The District of Alaska was the governmental designation for Alaska from May 17, 1884 to August 24, 1912, when it became Alaska Territory. Previously it had been known as the Department of Alaska. At the time, legislators in Washington, D.C., were occupied with post-Civil War reconstruction issues,...
on July 4, 1884. Arriving at his new post in early September, his only gubernatorial report was submitted in October. In the report he asked for establishment of a legal code
Legal code
A legal code is a body of law written by a governmental body, such as a U.S. state, a Canadian Province or German Bundesland or a municipality...
and creation of a tax collection agency for the district, a boat to allow the governor to travel within Alaska, expanded financial aid, and initiation of new mail services.
During his term, Kinkead suffered a broken arm
Bone fracture
A bone fracture is a medical condition in which there is a break in the continuity of the bone...
and a stroke. He also had to deal with a rift between himself and influential Presbyterian missionary Sheldon Jackson
Sheldon Jackson
Sheldon Jackson was a Presbyterian missionary who also became a political leader. During this career he travelled about 1 million miles and established over 100 missions and churches in the Western United States. He is best remembered for his extensive work during the final quarter of the 19th...
, who differed with the governor on the trustworthiness of the district's mining interests. Upon the instigation of the Alaskan District Attorney, the missionary was arrested on trumped up charges. The resulting scandal gained national attention with the governor receiving a portion of the blame for the incident. Kinkead submitted his resignation on May 9, 1885.
After leaving office, Kinkead returned to Carson City, Nevada
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
and resumed his mining and mercantile efforts. He died on August 15, 1904 and was buried in the Lone Mountain Cemetery.