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…………









August 23, 1857 Elizabeth Benjamin to John Benjamin-1823

Beloit
August 23, 1857
My Dearest John,
It is six weeks tomorrow morning since you left home.  I did hope that you would of been to home by this time but I have hoped in vain.  There have been many changes since you have left for here.  I am now all alone, and have been a week, and Robert did not pay his last week’s board, but wrote to Edwin to tell him to send it down to me, but I have not received anything from Edwin, although I wrote to him and told him if he had no money to bring me some butter for I had none.   And wanted him to saw some wood but he never came nor wrote so I have had to saw and split my own wood, for Robert did not leave only enough for a day and a half, but I look for better times before many days are over, for I can’t stand this longer.  If I had been well I should not mind it, but I am getting better than I was last week.  I was quite sick last week with dysentery, but thank God I am better. 
This has been a very lonesome Sunday to me.  I don’t know how it has been with my dearest John.  I received your kind letter last Tuesday.  It had been 16 days in coming , the one you wrote on the 3rd of August, the one you wrote the same time as Robert’s,  I have not received yet.  It is strange.  I think   Edwin’s letter I had posted the next day and wrote a note with it.  My dear John, your letter raised my spirits up considerable well.  I shall say cheer up, cheer up for if we have only a cover over our heads that we can call our own, Oh! what money it will save.  I shall feel like a queen.  Well, hurry up your cakes for I don’t want to be paying two dollars and a half here and you will have to come quick for I have only half a sack of flour in the house and no money to get some. 
I hope you have written to Banks for __ to come home before now, for it will be getting late for the children and sooner the better you come home for to try to sell some of the things for I can’t go out to see anyone about them.   I did go to the boss of the paper mill and he came to see the lounge but he said he did not want one so high priced, but perhaps you can get him to take it.  We shall have to let some of the things go for rent I suppose for it will be twenty dollars on Tuesday .
I believe the children are very impatient to see you.  Sis says that is a very long time and Bobby says he thinks it’s dreadful strange.  Sis opened her eyes when I told her I had a letter from Pa.  When is he coming home, she said.  The baby is as fat as butter and grows like a ___ ___.  You would hardly know him; how strong he is.  When I lay him down in turns right on his face.  He is a good child.  I hope he will prove a blessing to us.  I am doing all I can with him sewing so that I shall have time for something else when I get to my journey’s end , which I hope will be before long. 
I look for a letter from you every day.  I have had a present of a dress from Mrs. Wheeler.  I get my milk there now.  I get all the sweet corn I want too.
I hope that these few lines will find my dear John in the enjoyment of good health.  Don’t be too venturesome.  You might acquire a cold by sleeping so.   Be sure and cover yourself from the night.  I hope to see you for an answer to this letter.  Be sure and come now.  That’s a good boy.  I hope you had my letters, 4 I think I have sent, for you must feel lonesome not hearing anything from home. 
When Robert has gone to Dedham ________________________________.
Your affectionate and fond wife,
Elizabeth
I don’t know what the bedsteads are worth, the chairs too, suppose you want to sell.

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