Darwen News Wednesday May 6th 1891
Death of Mr Yates Duxbury
In the death of Mr Yates Duxbury, of Hall i'th' Wood, near Bolton, there has passed away a member of a well-known Darwen family, and one who would be familiar to those who remember the Darwen forty or fifty years ago.
Until a fortnight previous to his death Mr Duxbury had been in his usual state of health, and the illness which has ultimately proved fatal may be traced to what was at first regarded only as a slight cold. On Thursday week, however, he found it necessary to take to his bed, and after this he gradually became worse. No serious apprehensions were entertained even then by his relatives and friends until on the following Sunday hemorrhage set in, and his death took place quite suddenly, at about 9.15pm on that day.
The deceased gentleman made up his 73rd year in February last, and may be said to have had a life-long connection with the paper trade. He was the eldest son of the late Mr Andrew Duxbury, who formerly resided in Bolton-road, where the deceased was born in 1818. He was the eldest of a family of thirteen children, of whom Alderman Duxbury, the manager of Spring Vale Paper Mill, was the youngest and the present Alderman and one sister are now the only survivors.
Mr Duxbury is, perhaps, not well-known to Darweners, except to those who are advanced in years, but his memory will be cherished by all who had the honour of his acquaintance. Darwen was his birth-place, and he was one of whom Darwen had just cause to be proud. It was in Darwen too, that he first entered the paper-making trade, serving his apprenticeship at Messers Hilton's mill, which was at that time said to be the largest of its kind in the world.
After Messers Hilton's failure, the subject of this sketch, at that time a young man with the world before him, continued for a time in the employ of Messers Edmondson, who succeeded the Hiltons at Darwen Mill. Mr J.B. Parks, Withnell Fold, was his next employer, and his next experience of paper-making was gained under Messers Wrigley of Bury. He left the latter place, and afterwards became manager for Messers Heywood, Higginbotham, and Smith of Arden, near Stockport.
His next step was to start in business on his own account, taking over the Hall i'th' Wood Mill, near Bolton. This was 26 years ago, and although he cannot be said to have been without his "ups and downs", his career as a business man has, viewed as a whole, been a remarkably prosperous one. Extensions have at times been made, and some years ago the deceased gentleman acquired the Heap Bridge Paper Mill, near Bury. Two machines are worked at the last named mill and five at the Hall i'th' Wood, from which it will be seen that the deceased has got together a very large business.
Deceased has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Hannah Kay, of Darwen who died about six years ago, Mr Duxbury being married for a second time at Blackpool. His second wife is thus left a widow, and deceased also leaves four sons and one daughter. He was the owner of Radford Mill, in Bolton-road, where two of his sons formerly carried on the business of cotton manufacturers, but at present this mill is let to Mr John Catlow.
The deceased gentleman was somewhat prominently associated with Wesleyan Methodism in Bolton; he was, in fact, been a member of that church for the greater part of his life, and some eleven years ago he laid the foundation stone of the Wesleyan School-chapel in Bolton-road. He was a staunch Liberal, but at no time did he take a very active part in politics, and, although very widely respected, he has held very few offices of a public character.
The whole of his surviving children, with one exception, are married, and the business will probably be carried on by his sons, Alexander and Roger, in whom hands affairs had rested for the last three years, during which time Mr Duxbury has been residing mainly at Blackpool and Southport. He was interred at the family vault at Darwen cemetery on Thursday last, the Rev J.R. Immison conducting the service.
Darwen News, Saturday 7th April 1906
Death of Mr Moses Duxbury JP
Mr Moses Duxbury passed away, to the great regret of all who know him, at Blackpool on Thursday afternoon. The deceased gentleman had been seriously ailing but a few days; in fact, he was at business last week, and left Darwen to spend the week-end at his Blackpool residence, in accordance with his usual custom. He had not been there long ere he became suddenly seriously ill with Bright's disease, and passed away as stated, the news being received in Darwen about 5 o'clock.
The Late Mr Moses Duxbury had an interesting career. He was born at Bury's Yard, Bolton-road, on December 10th, 1838. He was the son of the late Mr Andrew Duxbury, and one of thirteen children. When an infant the deceased gentleman was left fatherless, and his mother died when he was about twenty years of age. He was first schooled by Mr Thos. Kershaw in Bridge-street, and subsequently went to Belgrave Schools, were he remained under Mr White until he was sixteen years of age.
On leaving school Mr Duxbury went to learn paper making, being apprenticed with Messrs James Wrigley and Son, Bridge-street Mill, Bury. On the completion of his apprenticeship, he went to Messrs Chadwick and Taylor's Broughton Grove Mill, Manchester, as machineman. By his industry and perseverance he was promoted to manager, and after holding the position for a few years, he went to South Wales as manager of the Ely Paper Mills. After a stay of five years in the principality he came back to Lancashire, and took up the position as manager of Messrs Newbold Bros' mill at Bury.
He remained there for four years, and then returned thirty years ago to his native town as manager of the Spring Vale Mills for the Darwen Paper Mill Co., Ltd., which concern was formed thirty-five years ago by working-men. The Company initially worked The Lower Darwen Mill and their efforts there were marked with so much success that they purchased the Spring Vale estate and commenced the manufacture of newspaper. Prior to the deceased gentleman taking the management of the news mill the Spring Vale Mill had never paid a dividend, but after two years' faithful service Mr Duxbury was able to show a profit, and from that day to this the Darwen Paper Mill Co Ltd comprising the Darwen Paper Mill, Spring Vale Mill, and Lower Darwen Mill, has been so successful that the concern and its products rank foremost in the country.
No one will deny that no small amount of this success is the result of the painstaking efforts, sound ad vice, and ability displayed by the deceased gentleman, who, up to the time of his demise, attended his many and responsible posts in connection with the firm with almost as much zeal as in the days of yore. The gentlemen associated with the Company attached great importance to suggestions of any kind tendered by Mr Duxbury, knowing, as they did, that his ingenuity had been the backbone in the erection of an establishment so famous as is the Darwen Paper Mill Co Ltd to-day.
An illustration of the deceased gentleman's Faithfulness to his Company and the latter's high regard for their manager was manifested in the year 1891, when Mr Duxbury was approached to accept the Mayoralty of the Borough. Being a servant of this most successful enterprise deceased gentleman very properly placed the invitation of the Town Council before his Board of Management for their consideration, pointing out that whatever they decided upon he would most willingly carry out. Without hesitation, however, a full meeting of the Board unanimously decided that their manager should accept the honour conferred upon him by the Town Council.
In coming to that decision the directors only gave additional proof of the generous and broad view they have always taken in dealing with their servants and in matters generally. That results justified the policy then pursued was abundantly proved. The honourable and successful manner in which they coped with legal difficulties and water rights in the Law Courts have from time proved the heads of the firm to be men of sterling worth, and we feel sure that they will never regret accepting the honour paid to them as well as their manager in the year 1891.
In the following year he was created a Borough Justice for Darwen. Perhaps Mr Duxbury's chief public duties were those associated with The Darwen Town Council He was elected unopposed as a representative for South-West Ward in the year 1881, and up to the time of his retirement on August 6th 1903, he had never had his seat contested. He was created an Alderman in 1891 in succession to the late Mr Wm Entwistle, and in November of the same year was, as above mentioned unanimously elected chief magistrate of the town in succession to Mr E M Davis.
The deceased gentleman's Mayoral year was one of success, the dignity and importance of the office being regarded by him in his usual tactful yet unassuming manner. He had many pleasantries during his term of office, and these he recognised and dealt with equal success and admiration from the general public as those above mentioned. Soon after Mr Duxbury's appointment to the Town council he was made chairman of the Cemetery Committee, and at a most critical time he took up the chairmanship of the Waterworks Committee on the resignation of the position by Alderman Eccles. He officiated as chairman of this important committee up to the time of his retirement from municipal life some three years ago , and few know of the valuable services he rendered Darwen when the water crisis was a topic receiving discussion by the whole of the townspeople. In this direction his memory will long be revered.
About forty years ago the deceased gentleman married Mary Ellen, third daughter of Mr James Rogers, of Higher Broughton, the ceremony taking place at the Wesleyan Chapel, Gravel-lane, Manchester, the officiating clergyman being the Rev Charles Garrett. By the marriage there was issue five children - three sons and two daughters. The eldest son Joseph died, and the remaining two sons and two daughters survive. He also leaves a widow to mourn her loss. Mr Duxbury was a Wesleyan, and A Liberal Subscriber both to the Railway-road and Bolton-road Chapels.
He was a Liberal in politics, although at one period he was president of the Bolton-road Reform Club, he was not regarded as a very active politician. He was also a member of the Harmony and Industry Lodge of Freemasons. News of his sad end will be received with deep regret by the wide circle of friends he had in Darwen and elsewhere.
It is only three weeks that Mr Duxbury declared he never felt better. But when he left Darwen a week ago yesterday he was not feeling very grand. On Sunday last he was on the Victoria Pier at Blackpool. Ever since this pier was erected, over a dozen years ago, he has been very fond of using it as a promenade at week-ends. For many years now he has been a director of the Pier Company and chairman for some considerable period and up to the time of his death. During the week-end his medical adviser, Dr Vinter, of Blackpool, was called in, and on Wednesday his son-in-law, Dr Swainson, of Bolton, was telegraphed for. All the members of his family were present at the time of death.
Mr Harry Duxbury, the younger son, who for the past four years has been his father's right-hand man at the mill, only reached Blackpool about three o'clock on Thursday afternoon, when his father told him he was very well. Before four o'clock he lost consciousness, and the spirit departed a little before five. His remains will be brought to Darwen about twelve o'clock noon to-day, and will be taken to his Darwen residence, Vale Mount, Spring Vale, to await burial, which will take place at the Darwen Cemetery on Monday noon. The Rev Bramwell Brown, Wesleyan minister, will conduct the last sad rites. We believe the funeral is intended to be of a private character
