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…………









Feb. 20, 1871 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Chicago
Feb. 20th, 1871
Dear John,
I am keeping office by myself today.  The bookkeeper is down in the city and Mr. McGaffey is tending to some business down in the city too, and Dr. Law, he is out of business altogether and we are not running the mill today and so I thought that perhaps you would like to hear from us altogether.  I don’t think I owe you a letter at this time, but no matter, I am going to write anyhow.  And by the way, what has become of the Hutchinson’s?  I suppose that I was going to have a good time with them the next time they came here but I have not seen them since I wrote to you last. 
Richard has been out to Belvidere on a visit and stayed for over three weeks and had a good time.  He will be 21 years old the first day of next May and he had a letter from his father and mother last Saturday, and I was very much pleased to hear it, a very interesting letter his.  Richard’s grandfather on his father’s side died last month and his father is out of employment just now on account of the frost.  They can’t buy brick in the winter.  But otherwise they are all well and are doing well. 
Father is about the same and Harriet and her husband lives with him and Charlotte says that she has an eye to him and that there shall no harm come him.  And they are all very glad that Harriet has consented to stay with him the rest of his days. 
My paper has run out and so I must close in love to you all and hoping to hear from you soon.
Edwin
We are all pretty well at home only been suffering with the cold some.  Our boy is a brave one and talks of coming out to see you before long.  Richard has been talking some of coming out next winter to see you.  You would be pleased to see him I know for he is such a good boy, although he will soon be a young man of age.
Yours truly,
Edwin
After you read this you may know that I have been doing our office business today.   

No comments:

Post a Comment