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…………









Nov. 29,1850 John Benjamin-1823 To Elizabeth Garner

Dedham, Mass
United States, America
November 29. 1850
My Dearest Elizabeth,
It is with pleasure that I am taking up my pen to drop you a line in answer to your kind and affectionate letter which I received tonight previous to my leaving here for Northbridge Water about 30 miles from here.  A gentleman from there came here to stop to try to hire a town.  Our employers here would only let me go away on condition that I would come back to work for them as soon as they can get their new shop ready for as to go to work in.  Therefore I deemed it needful to acquaint my dearest Lizzy of it so that she might direct the next letter to her Johny (to JB), Northbridge Water Works, United States America.  I only expect to be there about one month, therefore only you can write to me so as I can get it in one month.  You can direct as before to Dedham & my old ___ Mr. Thomas Price will report them for me.  If I remain there any longer than that time, I shall write to you again from there if all is well & let you know what kind of place it is .  I am going to start from here tomorrow in a train from Boston and from thence on another railroad about 20 miles from Boston. I shall be obliged to enclosed this note in a letter of T. Price’s to South Wales for them to report it for you, which I suppose will make a day or two difference or longer in reaching Holywell.  I hope that ere you will receive this that you will have received my letter of last Monday acquainting you of the fire we had here Monday night 18th inst.   I believe that I told you in my last that I should send you a paper with an account of another great fire at Medford , but when I went to see for the paper I could not find it anywhere and that was the reason I omitted sending you one.  You will find a brief account of it in the Yankee Nation this week, which I shall send you along with this letter.  I hope that you will excuse me sending you some more papers for a few weeks until I can ascertain whether I can get any at Northbridge Watery.  You will please let my father and mother know of my moving from here as I have no time to write to them by this mail.  Remember me to them kindly.  I was glad to have the note from father.
My dear Elizabeth I must need say that I feel very sorry to hear of your poor father still remaining so sick, & more so to hear of the poor hope you entertain of his recovery.  I hope that you, my dear, will submit the whole of your trouble to God and put your whole confidence in him, for he is always present and helps in the hour of trouble.  I hope and trust that you will not grieve in any way but always think that all will work for some good end, hoping that the best of your days are yet in store, knowing that there is a heart here that can feel for another & a one that you can turn to when all others have forsaken you. 
I must now to a close for tonight for it is getting bed time me.  T. P. desires to be kindly remembered to you.  Please to remember me most kindly to your father, brother and sister, & accept of my best love to yourself, and believe me my dearest Elizabeth to remain yours most truly,
John Benjamin (in haste)



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