Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1892, volume 3).djvu/526

490 KAERCHER, George Ringgold, lawyer, b. in Pottsville, Pa., in November, 1845. His father, Franklin B. Kaereher, published the "Anthracite Gazette" at Pottsville, served as lieutenant of Pennsylvania volunteers in the Mexican war, and was subsequently treasurer of Schuylkill county. The son took a special course in Lafayette college, studied law, and in 1874 was elected district attorney of Schuylkill county. He took an active part in checking official corruption and in prosecuting violators of the election laws, and to his efforts were largely due the detection and conviction of the " Mollie Maguire " murderers. In 1883 he became general solicitor of the Philadelphia and Reading railroad, but in 1886 resigned and resumed his private practice.

KAIN, John Joseph, R. C. bishop, b. in Martinsburg, Berkeley co., W. Va.. 31 May, 1841. He was graduated at the Preparatory seminary of St. Charles, went through a course of theology and philosophy in St. Mary's college, Baltimore, and was ordained by Archbishop Spalding, 2 July, 1866. He was then stationed at Harper's Ferry, but for several years also had charge of the Roman Catholics living in eight counties of West Virginia and four of Virginia. During his pastorate he restored the churches of Harper's Ferry and Martinsburg, and rebuilt those that had been destroyed at Winchester and Berkeley Springs during the civil war. He was nominated bishop of Wheeling, 21 Feb., 1875, and consecrated by Archbishop Bayley in the following May. Bishop Kain has now (1887) thirty-four priests under his jurisdiction, ministering to a Roman Catholic population of over 20,000. There are sixty-two churches and eight chapels in his diocese, and forty stations. There are four convents, one college for boys, six academies for girls, an orphan asylum, and a hospital. The total number of pupils in the parochial schools reaches nearly 2,000.

KALAKAUA, David, king of Hawaii, b. 16 Nov., 1836; d. in San Francisco, Cal., 20 Jan., 1891. He was the eldest son of a chief, and received a good education, including a familiar knowledge of the English language. When King Kamehameha died in 1872, he was a candidate for the throne, but his opponent, William Lunalilo, was elected by the people, and confirmed by the legislature. The latter died within a year, and in February, 1874, Kalakaua was elected to the vacant throne by a legislature that had been convened for the purpose. Ex-Queen Emma, the rival candidate, received six votes in the assembly, to thirty-six for him. The partisans of Queen Emma provoked disorders, which were quelled by the intervention of English and American marines. In the autumn of 1874 the king set out on a tour of the United States and Europe. He was conveyed to San Francisco in a steam frigate, placed at his disposal by the American government, arriving in that city on 28 Nov. On 10 July, 1887, after some political excitement, he signed a new constitution, limiting the prerogatives of the crown. &mdash; His wife, Kapiolani, b. 31 Dec., 1835, received a native education, and adheres to the national customs. She founded in Honolulu a home for the children of lepers. In the spring of 1887 she visited the United States, and in the summer was a guest of the queen of England on the occasion of the jubilee memorial. &mdash; His sister, Lydia Kamakaeha Liliuokalani, was nominated to be his successor by Kalakaua, who has no children. In 1879 the princess, who speaks the English language fluently, visited San Francisco. She is accomplished in music, and has composed some native hymns. She is married to Col. , an American, b. in 1830, who was formerly commander-in-chief of the Hawaiian military forces and governor of the island of Oahu. The princess and her husband accompanied Queen Kapiolani on her visit to the United States in 1887. &mdash; The queen-dowager, Emma Kaleleonalani, b. in Honolulu, 2 Jan., 1836; d. there, 25 April, 1885, was the granddaughter of an Englishman who married a chiefess of high rank, and was adopted by Dr. Rooke, an English physician, settled in the islands, who had married her aunt. She received a good English education, and married King Kamehameha on June 19, 1856. In 1865-'6, after the death of her husband, she visited the United States and Europe. Her only child died at the age of four years. She founded the Kamehameha hospital in Honolulu, and left her large estate in trust for the benefit of the Anglican mission.

KALB, Johann de, soldier, b. in Huttendorf, Bavaria, 29 July, 1721; d. near Camden, S. C., 19 Aug., 1780. He served in the French army in 1743 as lieutenant, and in 1747 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general under Marshal Broglie. He took part in the Seven Years' war, and obtained the order of military merit in 1761. After peace was declared he married the daughter of a millionaire of Holland. In 1768 he visited the American colonies as a secret agent of the French government. He was a brigadier in the French service when he made an engagement with Franklin and Silas Deane to join the Continental army. He accordingly accompanied Lafayette to America, arriving in the Bay of Georgetown on 3 June, 1777, and in that year was appointed by congress to be major-general. He began his service under the immediate command of Washington, and was with him at Valley Forge. He served in New Jersey and Maryland until April, 1780, when he was sent to re-enforce Gen. Lincoln, but arrived too late. When Cornwallis heard news of the gathering storm on the borders of South Carolina, he decided to join Lord Rawdon, who was stationed at Camden. He arrived there 13 Aug., and found to his dismay that many of the British troops were ill, and the whole force would amount to but little. He therefore planned to march forward and meet Gen. Gates before the arrival of the Virginia troops, which were known to be advancing. Gen. Gates was joined by Kalb, who commanded the Delaware and Maryland forces, and they decided to