Richard D. Gholson

Infobox_Governor
name = Richard D. Gholson


order = 3rd
title = Governor of Washington Territory
term_start = March 5, 1859
term_end = March 4, 1861
predecessor = LaFayette McMullen
successor = William H. Wallace
birth_date = 31 Jan 1804
birth_place = Caldwell, Kentucky
death_date = August 23, 1862
death_place = Troy, Tennessee
party = Democrat
spouse = Mary Jane Martin
profession = Politician
religion = |

Born on January 31, 1804 in Garrard County, Kentucky, Richard Dickerson Gholson was the son of William J. Gholson and "Polly" Mary Jarrell.

Biography

Richard settled on Humphrey's Creek in the area of Lovelaceville, KY. This was only a couple years after the area had been settled by Andrew Lovelace in 1820. He was married in Hickman County Kentucky to Mary Jane Morrison Martin on April 15, 1826. Richard studied law and became a lawyer with a practice in Kentucky.

He served as a Captain with the U. S. Volunteers during the war with Mexico. He was a member of the Kentucky Legislature from 1851 to 1855 and represented Ballard and McCracken Counties in the framing of a new constitution for Kentucky.

Richard was an ardent supporter of President Buchanan and campaigned throughout the state of Kentucky for him in his race for president. Buchanan later appointed him Governor of the Washington Territory and he served from July 1859 until 1861 when he resigned and returned to Kentucky due to the unrest which led up to the Civil War.

At the onset of the Civil War, Richard moved from Kentucky across the state line into Tennessee "for greater protection of his family and slaves". This was apparently a fairly common practice during that time.

Richard died in Troy Tennessee on August 23, 1862. His death resulted from injuries suffered from a runaway team of horses. It is believed that his body was taken back to Kentucky for burial but the exact burial spot is not known. No portrait is known to exist.

His wife Mary died in Ballard County Kentucky on October 19, 1883.

They had eleven children.

Correspondence

R. D. Gholson, Governor of Washington Territoryto J. Black, Secry of State, 14 February, 1861

Woodville, Ky,Feb. 14, 1861

Hon. J. BlackState DepartmentWashington City D.C.

Sir,

Unwilling even for a day to hold office under a (so called) "Republican" president, with my cordial thanks to President Buchanan for the honor of his bestowal, I hereby tender my resignation of the office of Governor of Washington Territory, to take effect from and after the 4th day of March next.

My leave of absence expires on the 25th inst. Will you sir do me the kindness to extend it to the 4th proximo so that my term in office will be just two years, I having been appointed March 5th, 1859.

With profound respect I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,

R. D. Gholson, Gov. W.T.

From: (The National Archives) Letter in regular order: Records of the Department of State, Territorial Papers, Washington Territory, Vol 2, Feb. 1859-December 1872.

Sources

* Charles Gholson, August 19, 2001. "Richard Dickerson Gholson 1802-1861" [http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?richard::gholson::264.html From Genealogy Forum at Genealogy.com]
* IGI Individual Record #457167 [http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/search/IGI/individual_record.asp?recid=700108621722&lds=1&region=11&frompage=99 Record from FamilySearch.com]

* Wiley A. Jarrell "William J. Gholson (1758-1837);Va>Ky" [http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?richard,gholson::gholson::341.html From Genealogy Forum at Genealogy.com]

* [http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/publications_detail.aspx?p=30 Available online through the Washington State Library's Classics in Washington History collection]