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…………









May 28,1855 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Dedham, Mass
May 28, 1855
Dear J & E,
I take the pleasure of writing a few lines to you in hopes that it will find you in good state of health as I am happy to say that this leaves me and James in good health, thanks be to God for it.  I have been waiting until now without writing to you.  I expected to hear from home.  I haven’t heared [sic] from home since you left me here and I should like to hear from them before long wether [sic] they had the money or not.    I sent you the money with the Macbeth’s last week.  I thought it would be better to send that way than to put ten dollar bill in the letter (I presume it will be all right) and it will be safer.  I really don’t know what to say.  I don’t have much time to write tonight.  I am going up to William Lombard.  He thinks of going out west.  We are going to stop next month or April and the hands want to go west.  You opened the gate for them and they are all going out (that is they mostest [sic] of them) .  And another thing, them that wants come out the mostest are gentlemen loafers.
You must excuse this letter.  I shall write to you and to Elizabeth next Sunday if I shall have a letter from home.  Business is very dull here now.  We don’t have much to do.  We have posts pild [sic] up all over the shop and I don’t know what I shall do when they stop.  I feel discourage, very much so.  I shall send you a paper tomorrow, two of them.  James is getting along first rate so I am told.  He has change his boarding place soon after you went away.  He has got a very good place at present.   He learns to play on the piano they found.   Has got one in the house, a very good one and they are very good player. 
More the next time.  James unites with me, all the folks in town, in love to you all. 
Yours very truly,
E. Benjamin

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