Thomas Joseph Kickham

KICKHAM, HONOURABLE THOMAS JOSEPH, farmer, livestock and produce dealer, shipper, and importer-exporter; b. 11 March 1901 in Souris West, son of Richard Kickham and Alice Landrigan; m. 30 June 1943 Mabel MacDonald, and they had five children, Charles (deceased), Eileen, Josephine, Eleanor, and Thomas; Roman Catholic; d. 1 December 1974 in Souris West. Kickham, a Liberal, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the general election of 1943 for 1st Kings. He was re-elected in the general election of 1947. He resigned in 1949 to contest, successfully, the federal riding of King's. He was reelected to the House of Commons in 1953, He was defeated in 1957, 1958, 1961, and 1962. On 8 July 1966, Kickham was appointed to the Senate. Early in his political career, he was a candidate in a provincial by-election in 1940 and was defeated by one vote. Kickham received his early education at the local school in Souris West. Later he attended St. Dunstan's College, and worked in farming and the shipping business. He was active within the Island's agriculture industry and served as the president of the Kings County Livestock Exhibition, as well as a director of the Prince Edward Island Potato Growers Association. Kickham was a supporter of the credit unions within the Province, acting as secretary-treasurer of the Rollo Bay Credit Union and as a director of the Credit Union League. In addition to these leadership roles, Kickham served his home county of Kings as the director of the Kings County Hospital. Thomas Kickham died 1 December 1974 at his home. Mabel Kickham was the daughter of Charles B. MacDonald and Irene (MacDonald) MacDonald of North Lake.