MARSHALL COUNTY, TN- GOODSPEED BIOGRAPHIES - John T. Kercheval
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JOHN T. KERCHEVAL, a leading groceryman of Lewisburg, was born April 24,
1850, in Lewisburg, where he grew up and was educated. He is the son of
Peter and Susan C. (EWING) KERCHEVAL, natives of Tennessee. They were
married in this county and to them were born nine children. The father was
a lawyer, being one of the ablest attorneys in his county. For many years
he was a clerk and master of the chancery court. He died in 1867 and the
mother in 1883. The KERCHEVALS are of French descent. The name was formerly
CHEVAL-a French word, meaning horse--and in some unknown way the KER became
prefixed. Dr J. M. and Mayor KERCHEVAL, of Nashville, are descendants of
that name. Having prepared himself for Yale College, our subject had his
plans frustrated by the death of his father. He then engaged in the dry
goods business, as a salesman, where he remained for seven years. He then
opened a grocery store in 1883, in which he has done a thriving business
ever since. Having studied law under his father, he was admitted to the bar
in 1871 and practiced three years. He was a promising young lawyer and had
a good practice, but had not learned the art of economizing, consequently,
at the end of three years, he found himself considerably in debt. He then
began to retrieve his fallen fortunes and concluded to try merchandising.
For ten years he has been engaged in the business at Lewisville, and has
been quite successful.

Surnames: Ewing, Kercheval
Source:  " The Goodspeeds History of Tennessee, 1886."