Hutchinson, Minn, U.S.
May 30, 1875
Dear Bro & Sister,
Elizabeth is not satisfied with her own reply to both of
your letters, which we received during the past week, unless I also will
contribute a word by way of encouragement to you. What to say I know not unless I shall tell
you that we were somewhat disappointed on sending of your letters to find that
you were not coming out here as soon as you anticipated. However, this may be all for the best. At the
same time I should, if I were you, try to compromise the matter in dispute
between yourself & the landlord of whom you lease so that you will be able
to come here next autumn, which I believe now in all probability suit just as
well as far as commencing or the opening of a business in the town is concerned,
as the times just at present are surely dullest I have experienced since my
advent into this beautiful State of Minnesota.
However, we are all hopeful for the future prospects as bright and we
think that most certainly that after our next harvest, which now bids favor to
be good, that times will be very much better, although in a new community like
this there are opportunities and chances to commence any kind of an enterprise
that a man may wish to engage in, what you cannot find in an old settled country
like England. Eight tenths of the people
in this community get their living directly or indirectly from farming and the
other two tenths their living by mercantile trade, manufacturing, and other
various branches of business. I shall
not be able to enter into detail in this short epistle as to how or the means
of conducting or the way those various branches are carried on. I will simply say here that I have no reason
to doubt the abilities of any and all Englishmen to compete with the
American-born citizen, where these Englishmen have had the advantage &
experience of the English style of carrying on business, although the Americans
have a way of conducting their affairs which you or any other adapt Englishman
can very soon get into without any trouble.
I have been thinking over the future prospects since you
wrote us that you contemplated coming here and at present I know of none other
better, or rather it strikes me so forceably, as the commencement of the
opening of a store or shop here in the interest of the farmers. I mean by the interest of the farmers this
(viz) the farmers have been for the last two or three years organizing
themselves into secret societies all through the country to meet the monopoly
of railways and the traders as we have none or any shop here as yet. I do really believe that I can work or use my
influence to build up a large branch of trade in this town in your favour, for
I am so well known, etc.
More of this from time to time as I shall be writing you a
line occasionally. Our untied live to
all.
Truly yours,
J. Benjamin
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