Page 476 - 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,
Cooper, Robert (1833-1895).—Son of a woollen manufacturer; first
secretary of the Accrington and Church Co-operative Society; elected to the
C.W.S. Committee in 1874; retired in 1876. Afterwards a sanitary inspector.
A Liberal and a Swedenborgian.
Cooper, William (1822-1868).—A handloom weaver in Rochdale, afterwards
a stationer and account book maker. A follower of Owen and Feargus O'Connor,,
then a Rochdale Pioneer, and cashier for the Pioneers' Society from the start
until his death. His work for the C.W.S. and the C.I.S. is described in the body
of this history. Devoted to the cause of human freedom and advancement
under every aspect, he sacrificed liimself chiefly for co-operation, and the
co-operative movement has not yet realised how much it owes to the labours
that only ended with his early death.
Cowen, Joseph (1831-1900).—Son of Sir Joseph Cowen, mineowner; keenly
interested in all forms of working-class advancement and in co-operation
through the Elaydon-on-Tyne Society; president of the Co-operative Congress
of 1873. A friend of poUtical exiles in England, M.P., orator, and reformer;
founder of the Newcastle Chronicle. (See page 57.)
Crabtree, James (1831).—Born at Dodworth, near Barnsley. In 1913 he
attended the Co-operative Congress at Aberdeen, being one of the oldest, if
not the oldest, of co-operators living. Brought up to carpet manufacturing.
A founder of the Heckmondwike Society, he was the first representative
outside South-East Lancashire to become closely identified with the C.W.S.,
being elected to the Committee in 1865, and becoming chairman in 1870.
In 1874 he resigned office, but appeared on the C.W.S. Committee again in.
1885—6 and 1886—9. Retired from business, and not now officially connected
with the Wholesale Society, he is still in office as president of the Heckmondwike
Society, having been elected recently for the third consecutive year.
Dover, George (1834-1881).—A man of many trades and an early
co-operative worker, particularly through the Chester-le-Street Society.
Elected to the C.W.S. Newcastle Committee in 1874, and became chairman
of the Branch; afterwards (1877) manager of the C.W.S. Durham Soap Works.
At his decease he was general secretary of the Durham Colliery Mechanics*
Association. According to the Newcastle Chronicle (May 5th, 1881) he was
probably one of the last white men who saw David Livingstone aUve, spending
some three years with the great explorer on the last expedition, when he fitted
together a small steamboat.
Durrant, James.—Was elected to the C.W.S. Committee by the Arundel
Society, serving from 1874 to 1875.
Dyson, James (1823-1902).—A silk hatter by trade, and always to be known
by the silk hat which he wore in honour of his craft. A pioneer of co-operation.
An " original member " of the C.W.S., he served on the first Committee,
retiring in 1867; founder and for forty years manager of a Working Hatters'
Co-operative Association, IManchester. Identified with the now defunct
Manchester Industrial Society, and afterwards an employee of the Manchester
and Salford Equitable. Chairman of the A.U.C.E. from its inception to 1897.
A-isympathetic biograpliical sketch by A. Hewitt appeared in the A.U.C.E.
Monthly Journal for December, 1908.
378