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…………









Oct. 10, 1864 Richard Jones-1850 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago
Oct. 10th, 1864
Dear Uncle,
I take the pleasure of writing these few lines to you hoping to find you enjoying the best of health as it leaves me very well at present . 
And as to Pentre Mills, it is burned to the ground except the shaft house and work shed and some of the men are working in the chemical works.   Regards to Christopherson, I don’t know what he is doing but he lives in Robert Davie’s house opposite the mill the Menai bridge.   And there is a large chemical works marsh down there first began about three years ago.  Robert Davies has a good deal of property.  Now he has about 7 new houses built last year.  Mr. Gleave is as fat as a bull and I think he has plenty to do as he has charge of the gas works, water works, and is one of the fire and life insurance co.  And father and mother live by the King’s Arms and Charlotte lives in the King’s Arms.  She has four girls and Sophia lives a little way off and she has five children and has buried her husband, and the oldest boy and Louisa lives in Mostyn and her husband works on the railroad and she has four children and all send their best love to you all.
I am here comfortable and happy and work at the mill with uncle Edwin and he thinks of making a machinist of me.  He has made a workbench so I can learn to learn to work on wood as well as machines and I’m glad to tell you that  this work is free from the draft and uncle is all right and safe from that.
And father and mother and all old friends send their best love to you all and receive the same from us here and this very shortly.
From your nephew,
Richard



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