John Benjamin was born in England in 1823. In 1849, at the age of 26, he immigrated to America with the goal of seeking opportunities in the new world and improving the life of his family. During his immigration and eventual settlement in Hutchinson, Minnesota, John saved many personal letters that were written by and to him. These letters, the subject of this web site, bring to life his immigration and the life of others during this courageous adventure. The most recent letters posted on this sight are on this front page. To see all the earlier letters, keep pressing the “Older Posts” button on the bottom of this page. The earliest letter recorded here is June 20, 1849. The letters…………









June 3,1855 Geroge Macbeth to John Benjamin-1823

Dedham, Mass
June 2, 1855
Mr. Benjamin
Dear Sir,
I received your letter of the 28th and feel much pleased with the manner in which you are getting along.   The prospect seems to be good.  I hope it may continue so and that we all may do better than in Dedham, of which I think there is not much doubt.  I am hurrying up my cakes as your wife says, with all the dispatch possible.  I am anxious to be there to work helping you as you are to have me and shall be there as soon as possible, and in the meantime I will do all I can here. 
I shall try to get all the ___ work patterns we have here before I start from Woods.  If we have a good jigsaw I will undertake to saw what you will want as good as Woods does with a very little practice, and it will come much cheaper than to buy here, but I will ask Baker sometime to supply us and at what price per post and let me know. They will send the goods next week – all that they can get ready. The reason they have not sent them before is they needed desks finished.  I will try to get you some of these newspapers __ ____ and send in the same letter.  The fall work is just the same but the shelves are of a different pattern.  There is but two new patterns.  I will send one of each if I can get them, but I think there is none finished.  I think you will find it explained in my last letter why Mr. ___ charged 75 cents more.  You will find by the bill sent you that he discounted five percent as ___ he sold in six months.  He told me that he did not discount any to you on the ___ ___.  The cane seat rockers he said were hard to get boxed and he sold them at the same figure he bought them.  He had not any on hand himself.  I will see him this week about those others and will have them sent right off.  I did not know the prices and therefore could not judge will the oak office sell or are they too high priced.  Tim will see that the bill is receipted, credited the same to me.  I would pay this bill if I were able, but having to rely on my own resources I am pretty well ____ now.  Getting ___ costs money especially with such folks as I have to deal with, but of that say not a word. 
I shall be off soon.    If there is any pattern you want me to get, just say so.  Do you want any ___ exterior table legs?  I might send a set black walnut, perhaps I will.  I feel dreadful fidgety here.  I want to get away but can’t just yet.  Jessie says he will box your goods up in first rate style so that they will go safe.  Can’t you put up a jigsaw?  I think one would be very useful.  I have had some practice here and I can saw tolerably well.  I shall expect a letter from you in a few days in answer to my last.  By that time I shall have seen the chairs and other goods off and will write again. 
Jim Willes got his hands badly cut on the OG machine, but is much better now.  Everything goes on as usual in the shop.  They all enquire after you and seem glad to hear that you have a prospect of doing well.  There seems to be but a poor prospect here for the summer.  Baker talks about not opening the mill but about half the time and the hands begin to grumble about it. The make 8 dollars a week and only half work won’t pay.    We can get as many hands as we may want here if we can only find a place for the ___ line.  If you can keep that “don’t care a darn” disposition of Conders in check, he may make a good hand, but he was not worth much here.
 ___ received a letter from Mrs. Benjamin and will write as soon as she can find time.  She is very busy now.  She wishes to be remembered to you all.  Remember me to Mrs. Benjamin and Bird and Mr. Bird and you will please accept the same from yours truly,
George W. Macbeth
PS – Your pen and ink is as bad as mine. I can hardly read your first page it is so faded, and mine I expect will be the same.  I can’t afford to get any more just now.  Please write soon.
G.W.M.


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