James Gemmell & Co.

James Gemmell & Co. (late Milroy & Rodie), Tea Merchants, Madeira Court.—

    London and Glasgow are the two principal tea stations of the United Kingdom. Amongst those worthy of note in this trade in our city are Messrs. James Gemmell & Co., at Madeira Court, a little west of Jamaica Street. This business was founded about the year 1825, by Messrs. Milroy & Rodie, in whose names it was carried on for about twenty-five years. Upon the retiral from business of Mr. Rodie in 1851, Mr. James Gemmell of Paisley joined the firm as junior partner, and at the decease of Mr. Milroy, which occurred during the following year, became sole partner. The style of the firm was immediately changed to its present designation, and for the long period of thirty-six years has continued and still continues to trade under the same, viz. James Gemmell & Co. In 1879 Mr. James John Gemmell, son of Mr. James Gemmell, was assumed a partner.

    The firm employ five travellers, and are regularly represented throughout the whole of Scotland and the northern counties of England. The firm have commodious offices and warehouse at 11, Madeira Court, and 26, Ann Street, which are connected ; their bonded store at Wood Lane.

    From the accession to the business of the late Mr. James Gemmell, father of the present proprietor, till the year 1871, the offices of the firm were situated at 48, Hutcheson Street. The late Mr. James Gemmell was a very active and intelligent business man and possessed fine Christian principles. For many years he took an active interest in ecclesiastical affairs, and was instrumental in the building and endowing of St. Mary’s Established Church at Partick, of which he was an elder and trustee. He also represented the Presbytery of Glasgow at the Church of Scotland’s General Assembly at Edinburgh in 1881. His death took place in July, 1887, an event which was much lamented by many private friends and public admirers.

    His son and successor, Mr. James John Gemmell, is proving himself worthy of his father’s trust, and is sustaining the old reputation of the firm to admirable purpose. He is warmly appreciated in business circles generally, and has a very genial acceptance amongst his contemporaries in trade.

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