Samuel Barlow

Samuel Barlow (1825-1893) of Samuel Barlow and Co

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1893 Obituary

We regret record the death of Mr. Samuel Barlow of Stakehill, Castleton, near Rochdale, which took place on Sunday morning at his residence.

Mr. Barlow was born in 1825, and received rudiments of education, for the completion of which he was much indebted to his perseverance and natural love of study, at the village school of Woodhouses, near to Daisy Nook.

At an early ago he commenced to work at the bleachworks of Messrs. Otho Hulme and Sons, Medlock Yale, his father being at that time manager. Working all day and his evenings at the night class of Woodhouses, the boy assiduously prepared himself for the busy and useful career which was in store for him. From Medock Vale the family removed at the end of 1839 to Salford, where Mr. Barlow's father had taken the place of manager of the bleaching department of the Adelphi Printworks, then the occupation of Messrs. Gisborne and Wilson.

Here Mr. Barlow's abilities' began to display themselves to some purpose. Being sent into the colour making department at the Adelphi Works, and being apprenticed to that business, such was the natural taste evinced for the work, that before the term of his apprenticeship had expired, he had charge of the department, and was appointed foreman colour maker and assistant manager, which position he held until the dissolution of the firm.

In 1847 the father accepted the appointment of manager of the bleachworks at Stakehill, then occupied by Messrs. Heald, Wilson, and Co., and the son, then being out of work, went with him to assist at the starting of the new management, intending to remain only until he found a suitable opportunity of pursuing his own employment. He soon found congenial employment, however, at Stakehill, which has ever since been his residence.

On the death of his father in 1855, Mr. Barlow became sole manager of the works, which in the interval had been considerably extended.

In 1861 Messrs. Heald, Wilson, and Co. gave up business, and then Mr. Barlow, in conjunction with partners, became proprietors of Stakehill Bleachworks, the business of which has ever since been conducted the style of Samuel Barlow and Co. The practical scientific knowledge and the ingenuity of the principal partner resulted in the introduction at Stakehill of certain improvements in the mechanical process, which proved so useful that the premises had to be considerably enlarged, with corresponding material advantages to the firm.

In addition to his manifold business duties. Mr. Barlow took a great interest in public affairs, and was a justice of the peace and a county alderman. At the time of his death he was Mavor of Middleton. He was also director of Winterbottom Book Cloth Company Limited, and a past president and existing vice-president of the Manchester Arts Club. He was a great florist, and there can no doubt that some of the greatest pleasures his life were associated with horticulture. Mr. Barlow often acted as a judge at the shows connected with the Royal Botanical Society this city. His botanical knowledge was very considerable. He also possessed many amiable as well as business qualities, and was much respected that the highest civic honours were conferred upon him by those among whom he lived, and who were, perhaps, the best able to judge of his worth.

The district coroner, Mr. F. N. Molesworth, on Monday, at Stakehill, Middleton. investigated the cause of death of the late Mr. Samuel Barlow, J.P., C.A., Mayor of Middleton. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased on the 2nd of May was in his Manchester office, and on proceeding down the stairs to his brougham, which was waiting for him, he slipped and fell down a dozen steps, breaking his left arm, and his body severely. He was removed Manchester Royal Infirmary where the broken limb was set, and on his being removed to his house at Stakehill, was reported to be progress in.- favourably. Serious symptoms, however, set in, and Mr. Barlow, after suffering very much, died on Sunday morning.—The jury returned verdict of death from shock, consequent on a fracture of the arm.

Thursday, at the Middleton Cemetery, the remains of the late Mr. Samuel Barlow, C.A., Mayor of the borough, were interred in the presence of a great crowd of people. The funeral was of a public character, and was headed by a large posse of police, the borough fire brigade, the members the Corporation, the whole of the Corporation officials, members of the Middleton Liberal Club, deputations from Manchester Botanical Society (comprising Messrs Bruce Findlay, B. Armitage, W. Grimshaw, F. Robinson), the Manchester Arts Club, and about 100 of the employes at Stakehill Works.

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