Page 474 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

The Story of the C.W.S.

Barnett, William (1830-1909).—A bookbinder, afterwards manager and
secretary of the Macclesfield Co-operative Society, and founder and chairman
of the Macclesfield Silk Manufacturing Society. Elected to the C.W.S. Com-
mittee in 1874, and retired in 1882. Auditor from 1872 to 1873. Chairman for
many years of the Co-operative Insurance Society, he took a leading part in
establishing the collective life assurance scheme. A member of the Macclesfield
Education Committee.
Bates, Matthew (d. 1898).—A mining engineer, well-known as such in
the North, and a member of the Blaydon Society, on whose nomination he was
elected to the C.W.S. Conamittee in 1884, retiring in 1893.
Bates, William (1833-1908).—A native of Bury, and a " tear boy " in a
calico-printing works at nine years of age. A chartist about 1850 and a
political reformer in 1865. In 1873 he was elected to the C.W.S. from the
Eccles Society. As chairman of the Shipping Committee he became known
to his colleagues and friends as " the Commodore." He retired in 1907, and
died in the following year. He was a promoter and for many years a director
of the Co-opei-ative Newspaper Society, and a director of the Co-operative
Printing Society.
Baxter, David (1837-1911).—Entered business as a shipping clerk in
Manchester; afterwards cashier and bookkeeper. Taught at the Mechanics'
Institute, David Street, Manchester, where he discovered Mr. T. Wood and
Mr. Ben Jones as students. Elected auditor in 1803, he served until 1868,
when he became a member of the Committee, retiring in 1871. A keen critic
of the early accounts of the struggling Society, he did much to assure its
stability. He was a Liberal, and one of the founders of the Longsight Free
Christian Church, Manchester.
Beach, J. J. (1816-1888).—A Government contractor, and for many years
a rate collector for Colchester. Elected to the C.W.S. London Branch
Committee in 1886, retu-ing in 1888. He was a strict vegetarian.
Binney, George (1831-1905).—Worked in a coal mine at ten years old;
afterwards an official in the service of different coal and iron companies in
Durham. A member of the Durham Society when elected to the C.W.S.
Committee in 1891; he retired in 1905. An enthusiastic co-operator, a Liberal
in politics, and an active Primitive Methodist.
Bland, Thomas (1825-1908).—A native of Lancaster; afterwards a rope and
tmne maker at Huddersfield. Elected to the C.W.S. Committee in 1874, he
became vice-chairman, retaining his seat until 1907. Nine years a town
councillor of Huddersfield, he was the first working-man magistrate in that
borough. Associated with the Huddersfield Temperance Society for forty
years, he was also a Liberal and a prominent Congregationalist.
Brearley, J. F. (1842-1895).—Elected to the C.W.S. Committee from the
Oldham Industrial Society in 1874. He retired, however, in the same year.
Brown, W. H. (1847-1907).—A native of Westbury, Wilts.; father died
early; at work in Newport at nine years old. Organising secretary of Newport
Liberal Association until election to C.W.S. Committee from the Ne^vport
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