August 28, 1864 Richard Jones-1850 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago

August 28, 1864

Dear Uncle,

I write these few lines to you hoping they find you well as they leave me very well at present.  I am very glad to tell you that I have arrived here at my Uncle Edwin’s Monday morning the 22^nd.   And am also very glad to tell you that I am very happy here now and I have began to work here in the mill with Uncle.

I called at Mr. Garner’s at Holywell and he send his best respects to you all.  I also called with Mr. E. Jones, watchmaker, and he also send his best wishes to you.   I went to Flint to Mr. Gleave and he and Mrs. Gleave send their best respects to you and all the family, and also father & mother and Harriet are very anxious to see you all and send their best wishes. 

And this in short with best love to you all .

From your affectionate nephew,

R.B. Jones

July 24, 1864 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago July 24^th, 1864

Dear John,

I wrote to you some time ago and sent you a letter from your brother in law, Joseph Garner, and one from father.  I made some enquiries about sending for Harriet at the same time with Charlotte’s boy and now being so long without an answer I thought that I would write a few lines.

I received an answer to my letter from father that I wrote the same time that I did yours.  I got it this Friday week ago and he says that Harriet was very anxious about coming out, but I have sent for Charlotte’s boy without her, which I expect him here this next month.  I sent a pass for him to come by steam through to Chicago.  I suppose that father will be somewhat disappointed in not seeing Harriet coming here too, but we could not keep her at present. But if should conclude on going home next summer, I may bring her with me back then.

I will not write much this time until hear from you.

Yours,

Edwin

May 29, 1864 Edwin Benjammin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, May 29th, 1864

Dear John,

Since I received your letter I have received two from father & mother and one for you.  It costs money to get letters now-a-days .   One of them cost 84 cts and the other 41 cts.  But still, there were four letters in one of them; two for you and two for me.  I presume you will be glad to hear from Elizabeth brother one more.  Father wrote to me bad in the spring about sending for Sharlot’s boy who is now in his 14^th year, and it appears that he is a good scholar besides being a very good boy.  And now that I have made up my mind to send for him, father says that sister Harriet wants to come too.  Well, in regard to her I don’t think that I could do all this at present.  And father says she is about going wild in regard to coming out.  And now it might be that she could be of some service to you in your family.   But as for us we have but our little Hattie left us and, of course, I don’t think that it would be very good policy for me to take us here with us yet awhile.  It would be a great responsibility put on me to take care of two where we have had so much trouble for the past year.  If I was to figure up my expense for the year and give you the figures it would seem to you as almost impossible , but this place is no place at all for a family to be taken for sickness just as we was at the hotel, and finally of all to lose our fine little Rienfrew.   But for all this I would go for ten times that expense if I once thought or had the least idea that he was going to get well.  But, no, God saw fit to take him away for us, and it, all this, was to no avail .  And now I am in hopes that we may have got over the worst of our trouble under all these circumstances.  I think perhaps it would be better for me not to send for her without you could take her.  I don’t think I would like to have her work out for her living and I presume you wouldn’t .   I shall leave this to your consideration and you can let me know what you think about it.  I shall send for Richard as soon as can conveniently. 

We all unite in love to you all , hoping that this will find you all well. 

From yours truly,

Edwin

April 10, 1864 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, April 10^th, 1864

Dear John,

I received you letter some time and was just asking Frances if I have answered it or not.  But I am of the opinion that I hadn’t.  However, it no matter, I am very apt to forget such things now-a-days and so you must excuse me.

I wrote a letter home two weeks ago today.  I should send a little money home, if gold was not so high.  It takes a pile of money to get a little and of course I thought it would be better for me to wait and send this summer sometime. 

I think I told you of my resawing machine.  Since then I have got up the frame, but not the machinery. It will take some time yet before I shall have it done.  I don’t have time but to do a little at a time and consequently it takes time to accomplish my ideas.   I should like very much to have you here to draught for me and, by the way, what have you done with those draughting [sic] tools that you had.  If you have no use for them I should like to borrow them or buy them either. 

I have had some idea of late to send you some money to buy some land, but perhaps I could not hold it without making some improvement s on it.  You will please make some enquiries.  It will not be until fall before I should be able to do so. 

I have been to Belvidere last week, that is last Sunday, and I had all my stuff that I had left there shipped to Chicago.  I think of selling my shop or taking it down and bringing it here on the car.  That would cost something. 

Hattie wants me to send her love to her cousin.  She is getting along very nicely now and hopes that you are all well.  She is very much intersected in coming out to Minnesota.  Frances will write to you about this.

From yours truly,

Edwin

March 21, 1864 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

March 21st, 1864

Friend Benjamin,

I wish you would have a lively interest in some of the New Englanders that will probably be coming to Minnesota this spring.  If Capt. George H. Swain comes, please show him all the advantages of the new country.  He has but limited means, has an excellent wife and 2 children and desires to secure a home in the west.  He will help me some in building when we come. That was done with the tops of the lumber cut.   Could I not have some wood seasoning out of them.  Did Mr. Luckes make fence out of any fallen trees. 

Please write me what seeds, plants, kind of dry goods  and groceries it would pay to bring out.  What are the prices, etc.

I shall bring out shoes or boots .  Don’t let any comers go away for lack of a  place to settle when there are so many .  You will confer a farmer by writing me a general letter directed to 6 Wall St. N York at earliest moment. I shall probably not go out till middle of May.

Regards to you friend & believe me,

Truly yours,

Asa B. Hutchinson

March 14, 1864 Thomas Price to John Benjamin-1823

 

South Dedham, Mass

March 14, 1864

Dear John,

I have received your letter of Feb. 15.  We are very glad to hear that you and your family are all well.  I am also very happy to inform you that my dear wife is much better, but not able to go outdoors yet.  There has been much sickness in this locality this winter and an unusual number of deaths.  Lung fever has been very prevalent.  There has been 3 to 6 deaths from it in and around So. Dedham. 

I sent you a couple of Flintshire Observers a few days ago and one of them contains the sad news that Pentre Mills has been burned down.  You will read the particulars in the Jan. copy.  We did not receive it until after we had received the February one.  When it came to us it was wet and I suppose it must have gone down with the Bohemian Steamer which was wrecked off the eastern coast a short time ago. That was startling news to me as I know it must be to you.  I expect to get a letter from Mr. Gleave before long.  I should like to know what they are going to do there, if they will build up again or not.

With regards to the letters you sent to your father and Mr. Gleave, it is perfectly right that you should hold direct correspondence with them if possible.  Nothing would please me better than to know that you held regular correspondence with you relatives and friends at home.  If your letters do fail to reach them or theirs fail to reach you, I am willing at any time to forward a letter for you with the greatest pleasure. 

I am very grateful to you for sending me the western papers.  I take pleasure in reading them.  I do forward some occasionally to Mr. Gleave and I have no doubt he sends them to your father. 

I have enquired about Macbeth l I am informed that he is still at Bridgewater.  I hear that Russell is not in partnership with Mr. Baker now, but some man that is a carver is in company with Mr. Baker.  Now they are doing some little business in bedsteads and bureaus.  Mr. Russell keeps a furniture ware room in Boston and is also in the lumber trade.  Frank Baker is turning in a shop in Boston.  The Everett has the best business around here, and business in general holds very good.

We are very pleased to hear that you are settled again and we hope your stock will increase and that you will be prospered, and you must look to God for his blessing to rest upon yourself and your family.

We shall be happy to hear from you again soon.  My family unites with me in kind love to yourself and to Mrs. Benjamin and your dear children. 

From yours most respectfully,

Thomas G. Price  

March 14, 1864 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

Milford, Mass

March 14, 1864

Friend Benjamin,

Your favor of the 3^rd inst. was received yesterday, being forwarded from New York and was __ _ __ gratifying intelligence and we were all pleased with its contents that you sympathize with us in our trial.

Dr.  Bowdish still lives and can preach that your children remember with pleasure our Sunday school singing and that Mr. Boudish is coming to live in our town.  He must have a lot.  Those lots Mr. Summer bought for tax title really were for the church use and we must surpress, in case of the state has decided that the tax titles are null and void, that these same lots will revert to the original owners, the town company, and be deeded to Mr. Bowdish for a church and parsonage if he will only leave Sodom (Glencoe) and come dwell with those children of light and progress.  I don’t care much for them but I do love a human man and when I do find one who can so well “Shoot his rifle clear to pigeons in the skies”, and can preach too, I believe he will be skilled in shooting swindlers and help all good earnest citizens pull down the grog shops and the grog sellers if need be.  I tell you, brother Benjamin, we must build up humanity in our little settlement and rum, tobacco, swearing, gambling, lying, stealing, and defrauding must be discouraged & dethroned. 

Glad you and your wife are blessed with another son.  Long may he live to gladden your hearts and never go down in consumption as our pet parrot did.   We hear of the beautiful winter you have enjoyed.  Probably you have had rough weather before this.  We are having splendid sleighing and moon light here.  Glad that the sons of Hassan Folley are taking to themselves the fair women of the land and that we shall have  a good hotel that will not disgrace the settlement.  I hope theirs will be much improvement the coming summer. 

In regard to the logs that you have drawn off.  I could have drawn half of them at fair rate and market value.  Mr. Chisley you may employ to estimate them provided I can have them sawed early so I can have them ___ by the time I wish to ____.  Can you not see that they are drawn in, as is drawn off and stacked on the ground near ur [sic] summer house where no rogues will carry them off.  I shall first build an L part and  I believe we planned for a building , 16 by 22.  The boards and finish might be sawed out and the frame not to be till I arrive.  Seth Nichols writes me that they are ready to fill an order for me and perhaps I had better begin with them if their price is reasonable.   I will write to them, also Mr. Chisley.  I shall use my influence to send along ___ and by & by come with our family.

Yours truly,

Asa Hutchinson

N.B.  Please see James & Chenley about the church lots and not disturb Mr. Summer in his tax title until the matter is fully ___ in discussion by citizens interested.  If Mr. Summers does not yield to the request, I shall find a _________________________.

Feb. 28, 1864 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, Feb. 8^th, 1864

Dear John,

Since I wrote to you last I have received a letter from father,  and enclosed you will please find one for you.  I shall answer theirs this week.   I mentioned to you in my last of Frances and Hattie being sick; they have got somewhat better now.  Week before last I was taken very sick and I have not got to my usual strength yet, but I am improving every day. 

I spoke to you in some of my previous letters of my little planer.  Well it has turned out to be a very good one and David Goodwillie is very much pleased with it and calls all of his friends to see it.  I am now getting up an improvement on a shingle jointer.  I am about making the patterns for the frame now.  I went down the other side of the river last Tuesday night and bought me Appleton’s Dicktionary [sic] of Mechanics.   It is in two large vol. and cost $12.  I am confident it will be of great benefit to me in getting up machinery.  I have one of the best draft got up for a resawing machine you ever saw and shall have it in working order next winter.  We have one of the measuring machines in the west, but for all that I have got a most splendid improvement on it.  I shall send you a drawing of it in course of the summer.

Of course you will excuse me for writing such short letter for I have so much to do that I don’t even have time think for myself.  Mr. Goodwillie made another advance on to my salary yesterday.   He is going to pay my house rent which is about ($150) a hundred and fifty dollars per year.  So you see how much I am thought of here in Chicago.  How foolish I have been to stay in a place where I could not display all my ideas in the business.  Since I have been here I am called one of the best in the city.  Mechanics from all the other mills come here to see our set up and plainers [sic] going with our resawing machine.  We saw from 12 to 15 thousand feet per day.   I have sawed 20,000 feet with it.

I have made out to fill this sheet and so I must close for the present, hoping this will find you all well.  Frances and Hattie unite with me in love to you all.

From yours truly,

Edwin (write soon)

Jan. 2, 1864 Robert Benjamin-1795 to John Benjamin-1823

Bagillt, Jan. 2, 1864

Dear John,

I send these few lines to you in hopes they will find you and family all well as these leaves both, your mother and myself, but very sorry indeed, and you must excuse us for not sending sooner for we was expecting to hear from your brother Edwin after we received your letter, and we received a letter from him on Saturday last and telling us that they were all well in health and sent their likenesses both of them and the two little children, and that was all and said in his letter.  He expected to hear from us on the receipt of his letter and then he should send soon again, and we are sending to him the same time as to you and sending his letter in his thinking that you may have it better, and I’m in hopes that you will receive this for we have sent a good many letters to you and him and neither of you getting them.

PS – Now I am turning to ourselves to inform you how it is with us at the present.  We have been forced to leave the old house, for Mr. Faulks himself and family to go and live there themselves for their family is getting very large, and now we are in lodgings and getting three shillings per week from the parish since the commencement of the new year.   But we expect to have a little place after a while with a bakehouse to it for to help us to live, or else we don’t know what to do, and we are letting you know all of our circumstances, how all things are, but we don’t tell these things to Edwin for fear his wife should see the letter and that it should harm him with his wife’s family, should we live to receive a letter from him again.  We happen should know better how to send to him.   And as you was talking about your brother James and who he married, I cannot tell whether you knew the family or not.  They did call her father Hugh Hughes.  Panty Crabus, she lived in Liverpool with the same family about ten years and a very nice girl she was to,  poor thing.   And the children has been with us for some time but was obliged to send them off from us on account of applying to the parish.  If we kept them we should have nothing and we got to send then to your sister Louisa to Mostyn, for Robert is a gaffer plasterlayer on a piece at Mostyn and they live very comfortable, and your brother James live out in Galway in Ireland .  He manages a mill in for a master there.  And your sister Soph has just buried her eldest son now lately and it is very lone on her indeed.  And you sister Charlotte lives in the Kings Arms, that’s the house as Chesters built, but very little business at the present for it is sorry for all at Bagillt.  Humphrey has been very ill indeed now this seven weeks back but getting a little better this week, but he has a good place of it.  When he is at work he works bricklaying work at Walkering Parker at Chester going of twelve years.

I should wish very much if you could have the kindness as to send to your brother Edwin if he could to assist us in our present circumstances.  We would be very thankful for we cannot think of troubling you upon the account of all your troubles, and thank God that you have had your lives and that it is as it is with you and no worse.

I must conclude for the present with our kind regards to you, Elizabeth, the children and all and shall expect to have something from the children and you soon again .  And your mother is ready to come see you all any day if the week if it was possible.  It is no use then of me thinking of going anywhere for I am too clumsy.  I was not from the old house as far as Bagillt village until now this three or four years and now obliged to bring me on a hand barrow.  You must allow us this time for we don’t know what to say to you much for we have been disturbed so much for the present.  And this from your dutyful father & mother,

Robert & Sarah Benjamin

PS -  Send soon again if you please.  We have been in great trouble with your mother about all this trouble being in the place four and twenty years.

Dec. 13, 1863 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, Dec. 13^th, 1863

Dear John,

Your letters were all duly received.  I was sorry to learn that you was not coming to Chicago this winter.  I can’t say for my heart how it was you could have changed your mind so quick.  I had one of the best chances for you that any brother could offer another under the circumstances.  You might have worked yourself into businesses that you would be far better off than you have been since went to Hutchinson.  Of course, I am not aware how well and how much you made since you went away to the wilderness, away from everybody.  If it was a lack of money that keeped you from coming, I told you in my last to let me know what amount it would take to pay your expenses here; I should send it.  Perhaps you may think that I was working for my own interest and not so much for yourself.  I am now getting one thousand dollars/$1,000 per year and my fire wood.  And of course I am working for the interest of my employer to the best of my judgment and thought that by getting you here I still was advancing his interest as well yourself.   And now I am sorry that it has turned out as it has.  But enough of this until I hear from you again.

We have about fifty men to work in the mills at present and the prospects are that we will have more.  I sent that man form Belvidere that was in business with me there, if recollect his name was Cohoon, and he is working the machinery upstairs. 

No more at present, hoping that this will find you all well as I am happy to say that we are all well at present.

From yours truly,

Edwin

Nov. 8, 1863 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, November 8th, 1863

Dear Brother John,

I have delayed writing to you this time on account of not having these likenesses to send you.  I had to go and sit two different times for them.  I shall have to be brief with my writing this time. 

I have been to work all day today.  One of the joints on the engine gave out yesterday,  consequently it had to be fixed today.  It is Sunday .  I bought a book the other day which you will receive with this, but, John, I don’ t want you to think that I send you these things because I think you are never coming here to Chicago to work with me.  If you say that you will come right off, let me know on the receipt of this and if you want the money to come with I can send it to you; whatever you want.  If you make up your mind to come, the sooner you let me know the better, and I will make the arrangements for you to go to work right off.

From your affectionate brother,

Edwin

Frances unites with me in love to you all.  We are all well, hoping that this will find you all the same.

I’m going to send some likenesses home this week.

August 31, 1863 Thomas Gleave to John Benjamin-1823

Flint, August 31, 1863

Dear John,

Your letter of 15 June enclosed in one from Thomas PriceI duly received and very glad I was to hear from you. 

My wife took the likeness down to Bagillt and your parents were quit overjoyed, your poor mother burst into tears. 

The only letter I have had from you in a very long time was one you sent to Thomas Price.  It was written in pencil just at the beginning of the Indian outbreak.  I had none other.  I sent it to Bagillt, if as you say you have written 4 or 5 times, the letters must have gone astray. 

We are all very sorry indeed to hear of your misfortune and hope your troubles are over before now.  You must have had a time of great anxiety.

I am intending to enclose this in T. Price’s letter in hopes that you will receive it.  He tells me that he sends you occasionally some of the papers that I send him.  You will glean from them the news of the country, and if he sends you the Flintshire Observer you will have the news of this locality. 

I regret to say that business with us is not at all good nor has it been for upwards of two years.  The war in your unhappy country is affecting our trade very much.  What a blessing it would be to the world if it was at and end.  May God in his mercy put a stop to it.

I have nothing particular to write about that will interest you. Most of your old shop mates are still in our employ.  Joss keeps the public house at Pentre opposite the mill.  He is now laid up with rheumatic gout.  Robert Williams woks with us and keeps a shop in the village.   Tommy Hughes is much the same as usual, but getting old.  Mr. Gardner is enjoying pretty good health but begins to totter on his legs.  He is not far from 80 years of age.  We are all fast hastening to eternity.  May we all meet in heaven.

I suppose you and I will never see each other on this side  the grave.  Your father & mother would be glad indeed to see you once more , but they never, most likely.  We must struggle on and in a few short years or perhaps months we shall have done with this world forever.  May we live constantly endeavoring to enter in at the strait gate. 

I hope this will find you and yours in enjoyment of health.  With our united regards to every member of your family and with our best wishes for your temporal and eternal happiness.

Remain, Dr. John, yours ever,

Thomas Gleave

I shall be very glad to hear from you again at the earliest opportunity.

 

August 21, 1863 Robert Benjamin-1795 to John Benjamin-1823

Bagillt, August 21, 1863

Dear John,

I send these few lines to you in hopes to find you and all your family enjoying the best of health as these leave myself and your mother but very indifferent indeed, for I had the rheumatic this time two years and I was very lame before, but now I cannot move without a crutch, not at all, and I have not been as far as the village this four years.  And we were very sorry to hear about all your losses and troubles with the Indians. And I am sorry to inform you that we are in great trouble, I can assure you, for we have had notice to quit this place on the thirtieth day of December next, for we cannot pay.  Therefore I cannot tell you what will become of us.  I am sorry to tell you that all our things will be sold and everything, and then we will have nowhere to go but to go to the Union P.S.  I should wish in my heart that if you would have the kindness in your heart to write to your brother Edwin to see if he could not help us out of our present difficulties, for we have sent to him so many times and that of no use, and I cannot think what is the reason.  We have received two newspapers from him lately, and one again this morning and cannot tell when we received anything before.  We have not received a letter form him since he is married, and you are well aware how long this is ago.  We should be very anxious to hear from you all for we are not to be here long again, for we shall be in another world before long, and am in hopes to find it not so troublesome as this has been for us, with God’s blessing, for we think that we have had our share of trouble in this world now for some years, and the Lord knows how it will end with us in the later days, for it looks very black before us a the present time

PS – Your mother desires me to write to you that is wanting you to sell all as you have and come home to England to live.  It would be far better for you she thinks, and oh how glad she would be to see you all once more, for she cried a deal when she saw the likeness of the two little children, how handsome they looked and how proud she would be to see you all.  I have taken the liberty of addressing my letter to Thomas Price seeing that we cannot receive a letter from one another no other way.  I thought we could do no better, for your brother in law, Joseph Garner, sent to us to get Thomas Price’s address for him and he would write to him to save him the trouble, and we got it and he sent a letter to Price and enclosed one for you, and that is above a twelve months ago, and never received an answer as yet, and he cannot think what is the reason.  Your sister Harriet took the children’s likeness to Mr. Garner & Mr. Jones and they admired them very much.  I have told Thomas Price in his letter that he must not take it unkind of me for not paying the postage, by stating that you would reward him for the same, for they tell us at the Post Office that the letters are more likely to reach their destination unpaid, especially these war times. 

We should wish to hear from you as soon as possible.  Mr. Gleave is so kind as to brig the letters and newspapers himself when they are addressed to Flint.  I have to tell you that your brother, I have buried his wife since the second day of May, and left two girls to lament her loss, and he is working in Galway in Ireland.

I must conclude for the present with kind love to you all, and this from your dutyful father and mother,

Robert & Sarah Benjamin

I have to tell you that your sister, Sophia , has buried her husband now about fifteen months back.  Died very sudden with the disease of the heart and left six children to lament his death.  Your brother in law, Robert Jones, and all your sisters sends their kind regards to you all .

PS – This letter has been wrote by a nephew of yours, your sister Charlotte’s eldest son.

July 18, 1863 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, July 18, 1863

Dear John,

I received your letter last week and should have answered it last Sunday but for my having a very severe headache.  Consequently I had to let it go until today.  I was sorry to learn of your misfortune since you have been in Minnesota, although it may be for the best that you went out there, but of course as it is very natural for me to think at present.  I can’t see that it was, at present circumstances, and time will tell.  I would like to had you come and take charge of some shop or mill in Chicago where you could have made from $2,50/day to $3.00 per day and get some money when your work is done.  I have the entire charge in this place where I am now.  The place I was in all winter is vacant at present.  They have had two more as foremen since I left them and they would be glad to get a man as good as I was to them for most any price.  But enough of this, for it is useless for me to say anything of your coming here and so I shan’t say anything more about it. 

I was glad to hear that you were going to turn your attention to raising sheep (or a part) for I don’t think there is any part of farming more profitable.  It requires a good deal of care, that of course you can learn the same as others done before you.  But it would be a good idea for you to correspond with some parties that were experienced in the business.  There are those that make it very profitable while others lose a great deal.  If I don’t take up again and go back to my shop, I may buy some sheep and let someone have them on shares.  They do such things here a good deal so I have learned since you wrote to me last.  But, John, in regards to my family I don’t think I should ever make a farmer from the fact things don’t go fast enough.  For instance, I should want a steam plow, a steam harrow, steam to grow the wheat and corn, and a steam reaper to cut it down, and last of all a steam thrasher.   I don’t think I should want any steam to start it up, but I am afraid that such would be the case if I was to farm it for a living.  Consequently, it would be a losing game all around.

I suppose that you receive papers from the office every week.  If you don’t, you must let me know for I subscribed for the Chicago Journal tri weekly for three months and the expiration of which I shall send it to you again.  I also sent you a new paper just started here and if you like that you can have that longer.  It is called the Spirit of the West.  That will come for one month.  If they don’t come, let me know for they are paid for.  I take the daily Journal and I thought it could be belter to send the other to you. 

I had no need to write you any news for you will get it in those papers.  I don’t see what is going to become of us with those copperheads in Chicago and, in fact, New York and a good many other places just the same. 

I have been sending this to you all week but I have been so busy that I don’t have time to go to the office until today.  _________________ write soon.

Edwin

May 19, 1863 Thomas Price to John Benjamin-1823

South Dedham

May 19, 1863

Dear John,

I have received your kind letter of April 20 and two or three letters before, and also several newspapers, some of which I have sent to Flint.   I ask your pardon for not being punctual in answering your letters.  I assure you it is not from want of respect to you and your family.  My health has been far from being good for a long time, but I am able to hold on to my work, but it is a hard task to me sometimes and there is so much irritation and excitement, ill feeling and bitterness in all parties here such as I have never seen before.  It is hard to keep clear out of it, but our trouble is nothing to what you and your family have passed through.  We sympathize deeply with you in the greatest of your trials, the death of your son.  We know what that trial is for we have passed through the same ourselves.  The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

I am sorry to say that I have not answered the letter which I received from Mr. Gleave yet and I am very uneasy about it.  I will send the likeness of your children with the greatest pleasure and I will wait for them before I will write to Mr. Gleave, and will you please to send them to me as soon as possible to be forwarded in the letter. 

Macbeth has been working in ___ Bridgewater at Howard & Clarke’s, I believe, but I am not very sure, that is as near as I can say.  I was speaking to Frank Baker of Dedham shortly before I received your letter and I believe he told me that Macbeth was there.  F. Baker wrote to you and he has heard you had received his letter and he told me to say, when I was writing to you, that he should be very happy to receive a letter from you.  I have heard that Russell & Baker have dissolved partnership.  Mr. Baker and a curver that worked for them is carrying on some little business and had a furniture wareroom besides, but don’t manufacture.  Holy Morse Boyden keep on as usual; they employ one turner, Deacon Hall.    I am now with the Everetts.  They are doing the most business, but how long it will last we cannot tell.  The lumber they are working now did not cost them much.  They were stocked at the time of their failing but it is difficult to say what they will do when the cheap stock is gone.  Business is generally much better than it has been.  Our two little ones have had the measles lately but they are now getting better. 

My family unites with me in kind regards to you and your wife & children, hoping that you are all well and that we shall soon hear from you again.   I am glad you have some countrymen with you.  It must be pleasant to meet them so far away from home. 

Please excuse my short letter as I am very sick. I will endeavor to be more punctual in writing in the future. 

I remain most truly yours,

Thomas G. Price

Feb. 9, 1863 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago, Feb. 9, 1863

Dear John,

I suppose you will be surprised to find that I am here in Chicago.   I have been here for some little time, that is, all winter.  I am taking charge of the one the largest mills in Chicago.  The business had got to be very dul [sic] in Belvidere this winter. I have left my family there and all of the machinery and a good span of horses, ___, wagon and harness and other things together with the shop.  I am going home to sell my horses in about three weeks for I have made up my mind to stay in Chicago for a while and am going to put up my machines in here before I go much further.  I must say that I had a letter from Frances Saturday night together with the note that you sent to my father in law.  I was sorry to hear that you had buried one of your children.   Maybe it was not one of them that I had seen, you did not say. 

Now I must say just what I think in regard to you being out there where you are.  I have several reasons for not saying anything to you about it before, and one is I thought that you knew your business better than I did.  And another is you are older and more experienced than I was.  Consequently I have been rather cautious what I said.  And now I should think that you had enough of that confounded place when your time is worth as much and needed as much as it is here at the present time.  I don’t suppose that times was ever better than it is at this time, and now if are [sic] or have dispation [sic] to take this opportunity which I am going to offer to you, and that is that I am about to bring all my lathes and tools here and put them up in this mill.  The parties are going to hire a man to turn and to saw with a scroll saw.  Now you see what you can do if you come here.  I think you can make from 2 to three dollars per day.  I think you have deprived yourself long enough and I should think by this time you would think so too.  I am now going on thirty years old.  It don’t seem possible but it is so and I can assure you that I have taken a great deal of comfort since I have been married.  And I have been making a little something since I left Beloit.  I am sorry that it is not the case with.  And John it don’t seem possible that man like you, able and capable of earning as much as you are, would stay out in Minnesota among a lot of Indians.  It really has made me mad to think of it.  I was told of the affairs out there by a gentleman by name of Smith who said that he knew you well, and he had a brother in Rocton near Beloit.  And to think and hear what that very man had to say about you as well as a good many others, why it don’t seem possible that I had a brother in such a place.   And for this reason I have been so negligent in writing to you.

I have here told you my mind and what I can do for you here.  There might be such a thing that you could have a place like what I have after you had been here with me a little while to get acquainted with the different machinery, etc.  Frances told me in her letter that she was going to write you yesterday.  I was glad to hear her say so hoping that both her letter as well as mine will find all well. 

It is getting late and I must close for tonight and you must excuse all mistakes for there’s a gentleman in my room and has been talking to me all the time I have been writing.  I live or board about one and a half mile from the post office and I can’t take this to the office till tomorrow night. 

And this from your affectionate brother with much love for Elizabeth and children,

Edwin

Sent you a paper last week.