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…………

Sept. 13, 1872 Asa Hutchinson to John Benjamin-1823

St. Paul
Sept. 13th, 1872
Dear Dr. Benjamin,
We are all safely arrived in St. Paul .  Wife is confined to her room with severe sore throat.  Fred is better.  We are planning to remain here a week or more before returning to our house.
Met David Adams today .  He wants more names to the petitions for annexing those four townships west of us.  Please stir up Bro Lewis Harrington & Mr. W. Pendergast to have a large caucus.  Liberty Hall[1] will have the largest numbers in his ____ or if there is not some more interest manifested on the part of the Hutchinson residents.  If there is anything that I can do to help the ____ I shall __ I have mailing friends in both houses.  ___ is a ____ bill before the Senate that I hope will pass that body, also the House.   A bill that will hold our ___ sellers in a little closer fix than they are want to be held.
St Paul, Friday Eve, 16th
Dear Dr.,  my wife is better but Abby is getting sick.   Both Fred & ___ have been sick and I’m just recovering from severe cold.  ___ ___ __ as bad as anything ___ ___ ___ .    Too late for ____ Township .  The bill has passed to a ___ reading and will be ____ next Monday. Several of my old friends have promised to support it. 
Write me at once direct to this hotel stating what is being done on the farm, etc.  As soon as our work is done here we shall head for home and will notify you for times to meet us, etc.  We had better get by this way of Dassel, had we not?  Please advise me as ___ here last Saturday.  ___ like cold day today; coldest for 7 years.    So says the eve dispatch. 
Write particulars.  Love to all.
Truly yours,
Asa B. Hutchinson
[1] Liberty Hall relocated to Minnesota in 1866 and is listed in the History of Minnesota, Volume 4 as the publisher of the Glencoe Register newspaper. In 1871, he was elected to the Minnesota State House of Representatives from McLeod County but was unable to take his seat due to his opponent (Lawrence Gillick) contesting his election. This electoral quagmire was later settled and Hall took his seat in January 1872. During his short stint in the legislature Hall served on the committee on education and was remarked as doing "noble work in assisting to raise the standard of the public schools of McLeod County."

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)