Sheffield Evening Telegraph – Monday 15 August 1887
Death of Mr. Thomas Barron, of Mexborough.
Mr. Thomas Barron, proprietor of the Phoenix, Bottle Works, Mexborough, died on Saturday noon, from the effects injuries received driving Friday, the 5th inst.
The horse ran away and coming in collision with a dray the trap was smashed and Mr. Barron thrown violently forward on to the front part of it, breaking two ribs. The injuries were not considered very serious until about Wednesday when Dr. Sykes, his adviser, deemed it expedient to obtain medical assistance from Sheffield. Inflammation set in, and on Friday it was apparent that there was no hope, and Mr. Barron died as stated.
The news of his death came unexpectedly, and a profound impression was created throughout the neighbourhood. Mr. Barron has been connect with the success of Mexborough in no slight degree and his loss will be deeply felt.
The credit of introducing the manufacture of glass bottles into the South- Yorkshire district was largely due to the deceased gentleman. In 1850, together with his father, brother and a few friends, business was started in a small pot furnace situated near the Don at Mexborough, trading under the title of Don Glass Manufacturing Co. The family came from Hunslet near Leeds, where Mr. Thomas Barron was apprenticed and he subsequently worked as a journeyman at the Aire and Calder Works, Castleford, belong Messrs. Breffit and Co., at which place Mr. Rylands, the father of the present proprietor of the Stairfoot Works, was employed. The efforts of Thomas Barron and his brothers and father in Mexborough have been crowned with success, until he could lay claim to having one of the largest manufactories of that description in the district. Mr. Barron was 75 years of age, and those who know anything of the trade in which he has been engaged all his life will understand that this itself is a wonderful circumstance. Glass-blowers seldom reach the three score and ten. Two years ago, when the Siemens furnace was opened on his premises, he accomplished a wonderful feat for a man of his years. He was habit of blowing the first bottle at the opening his new furnaces; and the late Mr. James Rogers, who was acquainted with this circumstance, jocularly remarked that he would fill the bottle blown by Mr. Barron with ‘ whisky, whatever his size. To his astonishment, and that of the workmen, the veteran blew and made a gallon bottle, although he had reached his seventieth year.
Mr. Barron prides himself on being the oldest glass-blower in the trade. He has been a member of the Mexborough Board, and an overseer of the poor; but although a staunch Conservative has never taken part in electoral strife. Honoured his townsmen, and respected by all who knew him, his life stands out as a monument for what can be achieved with perseverance rightly directed.
He leaves several sons, who are all engaged in the trade in which the deceased was so conspicuous a figure.