Dobby, John

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Dobby, John

Watercolour portrait of John Dobby, butcher. Born at Wilsden, 1837. Apprentice to William Greetham when 17. Commenced on own account at 23.

Research - Born in 1837 at Wilsden, he was apprenticed aged 14 to William Greetham, a Bradford butcher. Nine years later he started his own business and for fifty years ran an established butchering business. In 1887 he served as Conservative Councillor for Bradford Moor. Chairman of the Yorkshire Butchers Hide and Skin Company. One of the founders of the Municipal Insurance Fund. Died c. 1914. Painted in July 1890.

from John Sowden's notebooks:

"Was a native of the village of Wilsden, and came to Bradford at an early age. He founded a butchering business that for half a century was one of the principal of its kind in the district.

His first essay for municipal honours was in 1887, where he sat for six years for the Bradford Moor Ward as a Conservative. He was chairman of the Yorkshire Butchers’ Hide & Skin Company and was one of the founders of the Municipal Insurance Fund. He died in 1914."

Creator

John Sowden

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sowden-165