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 13,1857 Elizabeth Benjamin to John Benjamin-1823

Belvidere
May 13, 1857
My Dear John,
As I felt quite lonesome this afternoon I thought I would employ a few moments in writing a few lines to you, hoping you are quite well.  The children are well, only Bobby is rather cross yet.  He has not quite gotten over his sickness yet. 
Mrs. Howard went to the post office this afternoon, but got no letter.  She got the Tribune and an Albian, and Edwin’s paper.  I have seen nothing of Edwin as yet.  I hope he has wrote back before this.I shall look for a letter from you tomorrow. 
Mrs. Howard would like to go home next week so she says for she thinks I’m so smart.  Well I would do if you were at home.  How would it do for you to go to Rockford on the Friday night train and get here on the Saturday noon train and remain over Sunday.  Then we could talk matters over and see what we were going to do, for I can’t live this way.  I don’t know what on earth has got over me for I am awful low spirited some way or the other .  The more I try to get over it, the worse it seems.
Dear John, I bought you two pretty neckties and two thin bosoms.  I should like to have got more of them for I got them cheap, only I had not the time to spare.    I was out some in the garden today.  Mr. Rick has not gone away yet.
Baby sleeps all the time.  I have done a good deal of sewing today and taken care of him too.  The children are in bed since 7 o’clock.  Sissy coughs a good deal tonight.  I have put a ___ on her last night and tonight but it don’t seem to do much good yet.
I shall leave this to finish  tomorrow morning so good night.  Dear John, I would far rather see you than be writing this.
Wednesday morning, 8 o’clock.  We have had a good deal of rain this morning but it is clearing off again.  I think Sissy has coughed a great deal in the night .  I shall send this by one of the ____’s children  when they go to school.  I thought I would not send Mrs. Howard for it is raining .
Write soon, dear John, and believe me to remain your ever fond wife,
Elizabeth


1 comment:

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)