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 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.
 

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