The Lickfolds of Virginia
Edward Lickfold, 1854-1943, was born at Trafalger, Ontario, Canada. He was the son of Alfred Lickfold, 1827-1900, and Caroline Shipman Lickfold, 1833-1890. Edward lived in various towns in Canada, the last of which was Massie, Ontario.
Edward traveled to England as a young man and stayed with relatives at Hillgrove, Sussex and Headley, Hampshire. His grandfather, John Lickfold, was the miller at Headley, Hampshire. Edward crossed the Atlantic Ocean a number of times. We know he was in England before his grandfather died and stayed there for two more years until after his grandmother's death and their property was sold in 1881.
After returning to Canada, Edward lived in Erie, Pennsylvania. At some point he went to Alabama where he received his U.S. citizenship papers, August 1, 1892. A company called the Basic City Mining, Manufacturing and Land Co., founded by Jacob Reese of Pittsburgh, advertised for workers for a new enterprise in Basic City, Virginia or what is now Waynesboro, Va. They planned to make railroad cars. Edward answered the advertisement and moved to Basic City. There he met his wife Amanda Eliza Root and they married in 1894. Because of the Depression of 1893, the business did not prosper.
The Lickfolds moved to Alabama where he operated a foundry with his brother-in-law, John Lee. Because of ill health (malaria) the family returned to Virginia in 1910 and bought a farm near Staunton. Edward was a member Glossbrenner United Brethren in Christ Church. He had a good tenor voice and often sang at church and community events. He was a very friendly person and was well liked by local people.
Edward died in April, 1943 and is buried in Thornrose Cemetery, Staunton, Va. He had two children, Alfred John and Edith Louise. Some of his descendents still live in the area but only one great, great grandson has the Lickfold surname.
By Nellie Flora (Daughter of Edith Louise) and Mary Ellen Lickfold (Daughter of Alfred John)