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…………









Jan, 23, 1866 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Memphis, Tennessee
Jan. 23, 1866
Dear John,
I received your letter yesterday and am happy to hear that you was all well as I am happy to say that I am quite well at present.
I suppose that you will be surprised to learn of my being down here in Dixie Land.  Well, I am going out to a mill (that I sent ___ Corke have bought out down here) tomorrow morning.  It is on the Hatchie River about ten miles from Memphis, and now I have finally got into business for myself at last, and I think that it will be a success.  We are going to make lumber and shingles all together.  There is a very large profit in at present, which I will write to you again and explain the whole thing to you. 
I am sorry that I could not comply with your request, it had had your letter before I left Chicago I would have done so just as well as not.  But now I am using all the means I have got to get this mill started, and my family is at Chicago and it makes it cost me about three times that it would if I had them here with me, but I don’t  think that I will send for them until after the warm weather next summer.
In haste, yours truly,
Edwin
Address care of:
Capt. S. W. Pease
Lock Box 112, Memphis, Tenn

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