SENATOR EDWARD J. FOLKES,
Representing 20th district composed of the County of Campbell and
City of Lynchburg, was born in Charles City county, Virginia, July 17,
1820. He was the son of Rev. Edward Folkes, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who was born in Charles City county, and died in 1834,
aged 47 years. The mother of Senator Folkes, whose maiden name
was Sarah L. Crew, died in Richmond, aged 75 years. At the age of
nineteen years, he came to Lynchburg, and engaged in the furniture
business with Alanson Winston, whose daughter, Sarah A., he married
in October, 1842. In 1857 he assumed the charge of the business, in
which he continued until 1884. During the civil war he served the Confederate
States as acting quartermaster of transportations. Mrs.
Folkes was born in Lynchburg, in September, 1824. Her father, who
was born in Connecticut, and served in the war of 1812, died in Lynchburg,
aged 64 years. Her mother, Frances B. Talbot of Campbell
county, died in Lynchburg, aged 90 years.
The record of the children of Senator and Mrs. Folkes is: Edward
A., served in the 19th Virginia Battalion, Heavy Artillery, C. S. A., from
1862 to the close of the war, died November 18, 1874, aged 30 years;
William C., served in the Confederate States Army, in Beauregard Battery;
lost leg at Malvern Hill; was graduated in law at the Virginia
University; in 1866 removed to Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1886 was
elected judge of the court of appeals of Tennessee; married Mary
Wright, of that State. Alanson Winston, brother of Mrs. Folkes, was
in the Confederate States army, and died in service, of sunstroke Senator
Folkes was elected to his present seat in the Virginia Senate in
November, 1887.
