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…………









June 29, 1873 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1833

Chicago
June 29, 1873
Dear John,
I have been going to write to you almost every day but I have been so busy.   Since the first of May we had to give up the house we was in for it was sold and the party that bought it wanted to come in the house and so I had to get the things away, and the folks that was in our house was building a new house and they hadn’t got the house done so they could move until last week.  I had the things upstairs and in the barn until they moved.
And all the children was to Belvidere with their mother and came home one week ago last Wednesday.  And we have lost our little baby.  We buried him at Belvidere by the side of our other little boy.  We don everything to try to reise [sic] him.  Frances was out to Belvidere with him a long time.  The doc said it was the only thing we could do for him and he pined away so that there was nothing to him. 
And I have been changing my place of business and am now taking charge of another concern there and I will send you and you will please send your letters to their care.  Price is running our engine and learning the machinist trade - he does well too.   His folks moved the other day nearer his father work and I haven’t seen them since, although I thought that perhaps they would be here today but it rained so I don’t think they will. 
I suppose that it will take us some time to get settled and you don’t know how glad we all are to get back to our own home.  And it looks nice too and it is worth a good deal of money now.  It is just as nice a home as anybody has got.    I drive to my place of business every day.  Last night long after I got my supper I took Frances and Freddie to ride and went to Union Park and down Washington Ave. and saw all the best turnouts in the city and we enjoyed it very much.  And I suppose that you are aware that we Chicago folks put on considerable style now a days.  I wish you could just stop by some Saturday afternoon and see the turnout at Lincoln Park together with the music, etc. 
August 3, 1873
This is the letter I wrote to you and carried in my pocket so long so you must excuse me for this for I have a good deal to do just now.  I am in hopes to have more time after a while. 
From yours truly,
Edwin
PS – Write soon and Richard says he wrote to you last and it was you that stopped writing to him. 
EB

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