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 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


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