Coolgardie Pioneer 24 October 1896, page 15
A Furniture Emporium in Coolgardie
The above image affords our readers a view of Messrs Ashton and Cocks Furniture Emporium, the principal business of the kind in Coolgardie. which has a frontage of 23ft to Bayley Street and 165 ft in depth. The photographs of the two principals clearly show that whilst Mr William Stephen Ashton is a comparatively young man of 26 years of age, his co-partner is now in the meridian of life being well on in the forties. Mr Joseph Cocks is well known in commercial circles throughout the Eastern colonies, and both partners are South Australian colonists.
Being both manufacturers and importers their goods, which are bought in the Eastern States, England, America and in Ceylon, command a ready sale. On reasonable notice, the enterprising firm can literally furnish a house from garret to cellar —if such a thing can be found in Coolgardie.
Amongst the many show-goods may be mentioned bedroom suites in kauri and maple, Handsome drawing room suits upholstered in leather, and cane peculiarly adapted for our climate.
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Amongst other goods, large stocks of glassware, brush ware, linoleums, art muslins, cretonnes, etc. are kept, and the firm possesses peculiar facilities for supplying pianos and organs from the leading makers. Three cabinetmakers are kept constantly going in addition to the hands employed in making up bedding.
The one grievance Messrs. Ashton and Cocks have is the delay in the transit of their goods, as well as the very bad order in which they arrive, Nevertheless, both principals have a very firm belief in the stability of Coolgardie.
The store was located opposite the Mines Dept Building in the Atlas Chambers, Bayley Street, Coolgardie.
Family History:
William Stephen Henry ASHTON was born on 2 Jan 1871 in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia to James ASHTON and Elizabeth nee GIBSON. He married Alice Gustava SPENCE from Dunnolly, Victoria in Coolgardie WA in 1897. The couple had five children: William died in Adelaide South Australia in 1949.
William Raymond Ashton born Coolgardie 1898
Joseph Everette Ashton born Kalgoorlie 1900
George Alan Ashton born Victoria 1902
James Ashton born Kalgoorlie WA 1906
Alice Lorna Ashton born Adelaide SA 1915
Joseph William Pollard COCKS was the son of Japhia COCKS and Ann POLLARD born in 1850 in Tea Tree Gully SA. Married to Susan BADGE in 1873 in Kapunda SA. The couple had six children. Joseph died on the 30th June 1901 in Boulder and is buried in the Boulder Pioneer Cemetery.
Alice Beatrice Cocks born 1873
Dahlia Edith Florence Cocks born 1875
Gertrude Hillian Cocks born 1878
William Ewert Thomas born 1880
Myrtle Lillian Cocks born 1883
Olive Gladys Cocks born 1885
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