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…………









Sept. 26,1850 John Benjamin-1823 to Elizabeth Garner

Dedham, Mass
United States, America
Sept 26, 1850
My Dearest Elizabeth,
It is with pleasure I am once more taking up my pen to drop a line to you in answer to your letter which I had the pleasure to receive the other day.   I also received one from father and one from Mr. Gleave by the same mail.  I was highly delighted to hear that you were enjoying perfect health as I am at present, thanks be to God for it. 
It gave me very great satisfaction to hear of your having received the locket with the true likeness of your own dear and most affectionate Jony.   I was very glad to hear that my sister Mary Ellen brought with her the likenesses in the cases for you to see them.  I have no doubt but what you saw the superiority of the small one over the others.  I hope that when you go to Liverpool you will go to have your likeness taken and put it in the same case as I selected that kind of case for that purpose.   If I recollect well, I believe that you can get it taken somewhere on Church or Bold Street in Liverpool, anyway you can take a walk that way and perhaps you will be able to see same on the outside of the establishment where they are taken.  I was highly pleased to think that they were so highly thoughtful of everybody that had a glimpse of them.  Mr. Gleave tells me that he was almost ready to keep them for himself but he says he dare not do it; he says he that he opened mine first and before he opened the other the impression on his mind was that I was married and that the other one was that of my lady love, but he was taken in for once in his lifetime when he found it was that of my fellow wanderer Thomas Price   
I must needs say that I am much pleased with the watch guard which you was so kind to send me and for which I now thank you most kindly. The one that you ___ me with when I was at the __ __ old town of Flint.   I have worn out intensely with two or three others which I bought since being that you are so good as so kind to your beloved Jony in proposing to make me a plain one I think that I shall like it better for they are not fashionable here with beads on, therefore I shall keep this one to remember my to Lizzy by.  You did not tell me what your brother said about the likeness or whether he knows that you are keeping correspondence with me or not, as I have never heard you saying anything in that way by way of your letters to me.  I was glad to hear that both of your brothers are doing so well in business for themselves.  I hope that success and prosperity may attend their undertakings in every way.
I was glad to hear of your receiving my papers.  I shall send you one along with this letter, which I hope you will receive.  Please to let me know in your next if I am doing right in directing them to the care of your brother or not.  I have no doubt but what you will like the papers I send you for there so many stories in them or tales as they are sometimes called.
I was very sorry to hear of the poor state of your father’s health.  I think that you had better give up the house at Flint & for your father to go & live with one of your brothers as you mentioned it to me before in a letter some time since , for I don’t see the utility of your keeping the house on hand without you ___ there for I don’t  suppose for a moment that you will ever make Flint your home much longer  nor anywhere else in the old country if you will only comply with my wishes in coming out here next Spring, as you have abandoned the thought of coming this year, which I do assure you that I should be most happy to see you coming over this summer for I am anxious to settle myself, but not as you said I might be with someone else.  Oh no, for I never thought of anyone else for a moment I so assure you, nor did I mean anything of the kind when I mentioned it to you in my last letter.  I only merely said that I was very anxious to be settled in some part of the country & which I do assure you yet that I am no less so yet, for I am tired of looking out for a person can’t get anything & everything done as well as he can when he has a house of his own, & I think of myself able to keep one here much better than at Flint , although I was doing better there than many hundreds,  but I can say this , that I am doing about well as ever here as ever I did there. 
In regard in your going to live to Liverpool, you have asked my opinion.  I trust need say that I don’t approve of it altogether for I don’t think that you will like it so well, nor do I think it will suit your health as well as being at Holywell, but as regards going there for a few days with the idea of getting your __ of your __, I don’t think it would do you any hurt. 
I was very much surprised to hear of Jim Potter’s conduct towards his poor wife, which I feel very sorry for the poor woman.  I hope that he will behave himself like a gentleman & send for her out to this country now for I am sure it must be heart rending to her to be separated from her husband,  Remember me kindly to her when you see her & tell her to cheer up for better days are coming . 
I was also very much surprised to learn that philosopher Mr. Primpton was in Newark, New Jersey in this country as I had not heard you saying anything about him in any of your letters to me. 
My dear Elizabeth, the next time you write to me you will please & let me know something of what my mother has to say to you as I am most happy to hear you say that you call there every Saturday night by going to Flint.  Pray what does she say about her son John?  I suppose she often wonders what sort of a place he is in & what he can be doing.  I intend enclosing a note for them at home in this letter of yours if you will kind enough to post it for them at Holywell.  I suppose that they must know that their other note came in your letter but you did not say anything about it in your last. 
I must draw to a conclusion for my paper is getting short & it has got to be late for me to write the other note & I want to post them to go off on Wednesday next.  You will please to give my love & respect to your dear father & brothers and sister.  Send all enquiring friends and accept of my best love and affection for yourself and believe me my dearest Elizabeth to remain yours most affectionately,
John

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