John Henry Kinkead (December 10, 1826 – August 15, 1904) 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 in 1864, and the first United States official to hold office in Alaska.
Biography
Background
Kinkead was born in the now defunct town of Smithfield in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, 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. In addition to his postal duties, Kinkead operated a trading post and served as Sitka, Alaska's unofficial mayor.
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While in office he supported mining efforts, creation of toll roads, and the interests of the Virginia and Truckee Railroad.