Alexander Carus (1843-1920)
Alexander Carus (c1843-1920) of the company Alexander Carus
1891 Living at 135 Bolton Road, Over Darwen: Alexander Carus (age 48 born Blackburn), J.P. and Magistrate, Cotton Manufacturer and Employer. With his wife Agnes, four daughters and four sons.[1]
1920 Died.
1920 Obituary.[2]
County Alderman Alexander Carus, J.P., K.S.G., of Hoddlesden Hall, a Freeman of the Borough of Darwen, and Mayor for two years- 1895-97 - died on Tuesday afternoon from heart failure, after two days' illness. Despite his advanced age, the news of the death came as a great surprise. On Friday last he attended the interment, at Blackburn, of Alderman G. Green, J.P.
Mr. Carus was born at Blackburn over 78 years ago, his father, Mr. John Carus, being a grocer and provision merchant. He was a descendent of Mr. Francis Carus, of Halton, who, with his two sons, joined the rebel army of the Pretender in 1715, when it was on its way through Lancaster to Preston. The late Mr. Carus commenced life as a clerk in the employ of Messrs. Backhouse, solicitors, of Blackburn, but four year later he forsook the law, entered the cotton business in the employ of Messrs. Tootall, Broadhurst, and Lee, handloom manufacturers. After service with the late Mr. Richard Greenwood, of Duke-street Mill, Blackburn, he, at the age of 23 years, took over the management of one of the mills belonging to the late Mr. James Astley, J.P., and subsequently partnered, the late Mr. Edward Healey, of Preston, in a mill concern.
In 1882 he moved to Hoddlesden, a village on the easterly moorside of Darwen, and, assisted by his sons, had built up a large and flourishing business providing the villagers with employment and being the means of linking up Hoddlesden with Darwen by an electric tram route. For the first few years of the tram service, which is a corporate concern, he held himself responsible for making good large deficits. Hoddlesden had grown under his commercial, guidance, and during the present year he purchased by auction the extensive Rankin estate, and thus earned the title of Lord of the Manor of Hoddlesden. He was appointed a member of the Darwen Town Council on December 2nd, 1890, an Alderman on January 18th, 1904, and continued to serve until November last, prior to which he was, along with Aldermen A. T. Eccles and J. Cooker, created a Freeman. He was particularly active in the position of chairman of the Gas Committee, which he held for many years. He represented the town as a County Councillor from 1901 to 1917, was made an Alderman of the City Council in 1917, and had served there on the education and County Rate Committees. He was appointed a J.P. for the Borough of Darwen in 1886, and the County in 1905. As leader of the Roman Catholic party in Darwen, he was one of the bulwarks of St. Joseph's Church, and in recognition of his faithful service to the cause, he received the distinction of being made a Knight of St. Gregory, the honour being bestowed upon him by the Pope at Rome. He was a Liberal in politics, a keen educationalist; and an ex-president of the Darwen Literary Society. The Alderman had travelled a good deal, visiting America, and making many business and pleasure trips to India.
Mrs. Carus, too, acknowledges Blackburn as her birth-place, she being a daughter of the late Councillor R. Shakeshaft. On August 2nd last they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage: To Mrs. Carus and the four sons and five daughters who survive the sympathies of a wide circle of friends; are extended, in their bereavement. One of the sons is Major E. L. Cants, J.P., who twelve - months ago became a member of the Town- Council.