James Mink facts for kids

James Mink was a very successful Black businessman in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 1800s. At a time when life was very difficult for many Black people, he built a business empire that included a hotel and a popular transportation service. He became one of the wealthiest people in the city.

A Successful Businessman in Toronto

In the 1850s, James Mink was one of Toronto's most respected business owners. His father had been born into slavery, a system where people were owned by others, but James worked hard to become a millionaire. His brother, George Mink, was also a successful businessman in Kingston, Ontario.

James owned a large hotel called the Mansion House. He also ran the biggest livery stable in Toronto. A livery stable was a place where people could keep their horses or rent horses and carriages, much like a modern car rental service. Many farmers visiting the city would stay at his hotel and use his stables.

Toronto's First Public Transit

James and his brother George were pioneers in public transportation. James started a coach line that ran from the town of Yorkville to the St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto. This was like the city's first bus system, helping people travel easily across town.

The Mink brothers' businesses were very important. They even had a contract to transport mail and prisoners between the Kingston Penitentiary and the jail in Toronto.

Family Life

James Mink married a white Irish immigrant named Elizabeth. Together, they had a daughter named Mary.

In those days, it was a custom for a bride's family to give a gift, called a dowry, to the new husband and wife to help them start their life together. Since James was very wealthy, he advertised that he would offer a large dowry for his daughter Mary's marriage.

The Story of Mary Mink

A famous story was told about James Mink's daughter, Mary, but it's important to know the difference between the exciting story and what really happened.

A very exciting story about Mary became famous after it was published in a magazine in 1860. A Scottish novelist wrote a fictional, or made-up, story about her.

In this tale, Mary marries a man who tricks her and sells her into slavery in the United States. The story then describes her father, James, going on a dangerous mission to the American South to rescue her. This dramatic story was so popular that it was printed many times, and many people believed it was a true account of what happened.

What Really Happened?

Historical records, like the census, show a different and happier story. Mary Mink did not marry a man who betrayed her. Instead, she married a well-respected Black man named William Johnson.

After their wedding, the couple moved to Niagara Falls, New York, because William had a good job working at a hotel there. The dramatic story of her being sold into slavery was just an adventure story created by a writer.

James Mink in Popular Culture

The exciting, but fictional, story of James Mink rescuing his daughter was turned into a movie in 1996. The movie is called Captive Heart: The James Mink Story and stars actor Lou Gossett, Jr. as James Mink and Kate Nelligan as his wife, Elizabeth.