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JAMES MINGAY ~ SARATOGA SPRINGS N.Y.  

JAMES MINGAY WAS AN IMPORTANT FIGURE IN SARATOGA SPRINGS AS WAS HIS WIFE, HERE IS SOME OF THE HISTORY OF MR.MINGAY WHO AT 13 YRS. OLD STARTED HIS LIFELONG CAREER IN THE APOTHECARY BUSINESS. I WILL BE ADDING MORE TO THIS AS TIME PERMITS,I LOOKED UP THE MAJORITY OF MY INFORMATION IN THE SARATOGA ROOM IN THE SARATOGA LIBRARY AND I THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HELP.

James Mingay's talents turned to the drug business, at an early age,when only 13 he dropped from school and became a drug clerk in one of the early drugstores in the community.
In 1869 he opened his own drug store, continuing the business until September 2nd, 1889 when he sold it to the late Fred Menges.
The store Menges & Curtis, is an off~shoot of that business.

Mr. Mingay does a general apothecary's business and keeps a fine assortment of American, French and English Toilet articles constantly on hand. We commend Mr. Mingay to the favorable consideration of those wanting anything in his line. Give him a call.

Mr. Mingay was an Englishman by birth, having been born at Yarmouth, county of Norfolk, England, on October 9, 1844. In 1850, when he was about six years old, his parents removed to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., bringing him with them and there he made his home for the remainder of his life. For a few years after his arrival there he attended the public schools, but at the age of thirteen he became a clerk in a drug store, where he continued until 1869, when he embarked in the drug business on his own account. This he conducted successfully until 1889 when he retired, and in 1890 was one of the organizers of the G. F. Harvey Company, manufacturing chemists. He was one of the principal stockholders of this company and took an active part in its affairs until his death.

On October 9, 1873, he married Louise Hill, daughter of Benjamin Hill of Malta, who survives him.

 James Mingay & Co., Apothecaries, No. 472 Broadway.?The establishment so successfully conducted by Messrs. James Mingay & Co., the well-known apothecaries, at No. 472 Broadway, is the leading source of supply at Saratoga Springs for drugs and medicines. lt was established in 1869 by Mr. Jas. Mingay, and in 1884 the presentfirm was organized by the admission of Mr. Frederick Menges to partnership. lt is an elegant establishment in every way. The handsome appointments, appropriate fixtures, and the distribution of stock, present a claim for beauty and finish unsurpassed in this vicinity. A splendid line of goods is shown in every branch of the business. The pure and superior assortment of drugs, medicines and pharmaceutical preparations are supplied from the most reputable sources, -and are selected with special reference to strength and freshness. In the line of novelties in perfumery, toilet articles and fancy goods, the enterprise of the proprietors has placed within the reach of their patrons and the public the best articles that can be purchased. The house is perfectly equipped for its specialty of prescriptions, and accuracy is assured in all cases. The firm are also widely known as manufacturers of Mingay's Cough Balsam and Mingay's Magic Relief, which are highly esteemed for their offlcacy and remedial qualities. The patronage of the house is large, first class and influential.business in 1885, and during his subsequent career he has built up a widely extended and liberal trade, which has been secured through his untiring efforts to please all classes of customers, and the strict principles of honor and integrity which have ever governed his transactions. He is thoroughly conversant with every detail of the business, and carries on an extensive trade in all its branches. He buys, sells and exchanges real estate, loans money on bond and mortgage, manages estates, collects rents, furnishes cottages, etc., in the most satisfactory and efficient manner.In today's world he would have been given an honorary online MBA in finance.

 THE MINGAY HOME LOCATED IN SARATOGA SPRINGS NEW YORK. EARLY 1900'S

THIS PICTURE WAS SENT TO ME BY THE PRESENT OWNER OF THE MINGAY HOUSE, AND I THANK HER FOR THAT. SHE IS HAVING THE OUTSIDE RESTORED TO ITS ORIGINAL FACADE. SHE IS ALSO HAVING IT ADDED TO NEW YORKS HISTORICAL SITES,PRESERVING IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. I THINK THIS IS A VERY ADMIRABLE THING FOR HER TO DO,AND I AM PROUD TO SAY, SHE NOW HAS SOME MINGAYS BOTTLES TO DISPLAY THERE AS WELL.

   G. F. Harvey Company Saratoga Springs

When the G.F. Harvey company was formed in 1890  he became one of the principal subscribers and a director. Four years later when the late G.F.Harvey purchased part of the Pudue Block on Broadway {now know as the Algonquin block} he became part owner of the other part of the block. 

At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the G. F. Harvey Co., manufacturing chemists, Saratoga Springs, N. Y., April 20th, the following trustees were elected for the ensuing year: Geo. F. Harvey, S. A. Rickard, L. H. Cramer, Jas. Mingay, E. T. Brackett, Wm. Hay Bockes and Hiram Tompkins. At a meeting of the trustees on April 24th, the following officers were elected: President, S. A. Rickard; vice-president and treasurer, L. H. Cramer; secretary, James Mingay. The company report the most prosperous year since its incorporation.  He was one of the principal stockholders of this company and took an active part in its affairs until his death.

MRS.JAMES MINGAY'S PART 

   THE HISTORIC TREE SENT FROM SARATOGA'S BATTLEFIELD. It was very gently suggested when the question of the proper celebration of the centenary of Washington's Farewell Address came before us, that we were supposed to have done all of our celebrating for some time to come in July last. The interval of silence between our last Magazine account and the present may lead those of our kindly-disposed sisters who take an interest in our little affairs to think that we have verified the suggestion. We would, however, dispell such an illusion, for however wearied by our efforts we may be, when a new occasion is offered, the spirit of patriotic interest presents herself as fresh and sparkling as do the waters of the live-giving mineral fountains in our midst after each heavy draught upon their resources. And here let me whisper it softly that we actually contemplated the celebration of the battle of 

 Bennington, at Mt. McGregor, the 15th of August, despite the very uplifted condition of the mercury in our thermometers. That we did not mustn't be ascribed to the debilitating effect of the weather upon several of our members, who unwillingly succumbed to the same.

 The anniversary of the century of Washington's Farewell Address falling upon the 19th of September?the day appointed for the annual meeting of the Chapter?it was decided at a business meeting held upon the 14th inst., to observe the same upon Thursday, the 17th.

Accordingly, upon the day mentioned, the Chapter assembled by invitation of Mrs. George P Lawton, President of the local Chapter, Children of the American Revolution, at four o'clock in the afternoon, at her beautiful home on Clement Avenue.

After the transaction of some important business relating to a change -in our by-laws, Miss Jones, Vice-Regent, who was presiding, gave a most interesting account of a visit with the State Regent of Colorado, at Colorado Springs, and of the delightful and enthusiastic interest evinced in the West by the "Daughters" whom she met, in whatever pertained to the work of the same in the East, despite all possible differences upon certain questions of finance.

Its length left only time for a unanimous vote of thanks to the reader and a partaking of the most delicious refreshments ere the warning shades of night proclaimed that the hospitalities of the gracious hostess must be exchanged for the inclement and moist conditions prevailing without.

Upon the 19th of September the Chapter held its second annual meeting. The reports all show the same to be in a most flourishing condition, with seventy-two members upon its roll.

The following is the list of officers for the ensuing year : Regent, Miss Elizabeth Brown; First Vice-Regent, Mrs. James Mingay ; Second Vice-Regent, Miss Anna M. Jones ; Third Vice-Regent, Mrs. Andrew Smith ; Recording Secretary, Mrs. A. C. Hayden ; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. C. M. Davison ; Registrar, Mrs. D. C. Moriarta ; Treasurer, Mrs. Frederick Menges ; Historian, Mrs. Jasper Cairns ; Assistant Historian, Mrs. W. H. Hodgman.

The anniversary of the surrender day, October 19, which is a day set apart with others for observance by our Chapter, proved inclement and the anticipated excursion to the battlefield was postponed until the following Monday. Then a small but very happy party set out in " buckboards " for this historic spot. After the long and rather chilly drive interest first centered around the lunch table spread within the old Freeman farmhouse upon the spot where the farmer soldiers so bravely distinguished themselves one hundred and nineteen years ago.

The heavy rains had made the fields impassible for foot pilgrimages far beyond where the pumpkins lay. And who shall say their golden hue did tempt to the gathering of souvenirs ? Surely not I, the chronicler. Is not the collecting of relics the work of the true historic pilgrim? But surely, am I told, that there was '' mischief in the air,'' and that the welkin sang with song and story as the party drove from tablet to tablet?the markers placed upon historic sites. The pilgrimage ended at nightfall, after a drive of thirty-five miles.  

 The readers of the American Monthly will perhaps recall the fact that at the conference of Chapter Regents held in Utica upon the 4th of June of this year, that when the request of Sequoia Chapter, of San Francisco, for a representative tree from New York State for their historic arch was presented that it was unanimously decided that this emblematical tree should be selected from the battlefield of Saratoga.

   And thus upon us as a Chapter devolved the honor of selecting and transmitting across the continent a tree to stand as a representative, we trust, to all ages, of the Empire State and of the signal victory which was the turning point of the great revolutionary struggle, an honor which we fully appreciate.

At an early August meeting of the Chapter the following committee was appointed: Mrs. James Mingay, Mrs. Frederick Menges, and Mrs. George Harvey, to procure the tree, attend to shipping and other matters of transportation.

According to the instructions received from Sequoia Chapter a white oak was selected from the battlefield. This was nearly fifteen feet high and weighed fifty pounds. A small hickory sapling was also selected and with the white oak securely packed and accompanied by some of its historic, native soil, was shipped by express to California the 30th of September. The chairman of the committee, Mrs. Mingay, then forwarded to Mrs. S. Isabelle Hubbard and the Sequoia Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, of San Francisco, the following interesting account of the history of the ground from which the trees were taken :

Saratoga Chapter, Daughters Of The American Revolution,

Fraternal Greeting : The suggestion that Sequoia Chapter create an " historic arch " in Golden Gate Park, to be composed of representative trees from battlefields or other historic spots in the thirteen original States of this Union is a grand and noble idea, and in the years to come will tend to build up and foster in the rising and coming generations feelings of reverence for the acts of the noble heroes, who with their blood and toil, laid the foundations of this glorious Nation.

The Saratoga Chapter feels proud of its selection as the instrument for obtaining the " white oak " from the battlefield lying ten miles to the east of this village, and likewise thank the State Conference for the honor done us in selecting the battlefield of Saratoga as the spot of all spots in a State rich in sites.

Representatives of our Chapter made an excursion on Tuesday, September 29, to the historic " Freeman's Farm," where, afteralong search over ground made memorable by the hardest kind of fighting, they selected a white oak growing on the spot once occupied by the extreme north end of the northern redoubt of Lord Balcarras, who held the center of the fortified camp October 7. It is this redoubt that baffled Arnold with Patterson's brigade, and caused him to swing down the ravine with a part of Learned's brigade and attack Breyman in his fortifications. In the grove to the east of this redoubt is still seen the English military road in good preservation.

The germ of this tree was present at the last bold, desperate and successful onslaught made by Arnold, which is so vividly described in the lines " The Black Horse and Its Rider."

An incident occurred at this time showing an honorable and magnanimous side to Arnold's nature. "As Arnold fell, one of his men rushed up to bayonet the wounded soldier who had shot him, when the pros" trate General cried, ' For God's sake don't hurt him ; he's a fine fellow!' The poor German was saved, and it has been well said that this is the hour when Benedict Arnold should have died."

The shattered army of Burgoyne retreated to where is now located Schuylerville, destroying by fire the fine mansion of General Schuyler. Even an expert in strategic public relations couldn't have helped Burgoyne's image after that vengeful act. It seems poetic justice that Burgoyne was compelled to sign the articles of capitulation on the site of its ruins.