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…………









April 2, 1878 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Minneapolis, Minn.
April 2, 1878
Dear John,
Yours of March 30th I received this evening on my return from Stillwater and of course I was not here to answer it last evening.  I am sorry that you should think that the tone of my letter and Frances’s letter was unchristian-like for I know that such things are far from my thoughts, and I know too that it is the case with Frances, and I know that we have been trying to bring ours and other children that comes within our reach to live and only live but practice Christian lives.  And if we have made a failure in this, well all I can do, in fact all of us can do, is to take it to the Lord in prayer.  And when he tells me I am wrong, why there is no person in the world that is more willing to acknowledge it and confess it, and we’ll try to do the will of my Father and on my own, and if this offends you, as I said before, I am sorry.  So I will not undertake to say what I should until some future time.  But I do ask you to send for Annie and when she goes to visit anyone again, and to work, I hope the lesson of the past will be of profit to her.  And if I was going to give her advice, I would certainly do it in a Christian like spirit and sympathy. 
I shall start for home tomorrow and if you should feel like writing to me and ask any questions about it, I will very cheerfully answer them in the very best manner possible for me to do so.   And I certainly rather to know more about it before I should say what I now know to be facts, and I have no doubt but you would be surprised to know all about them. 
From yours respectfully,
Edwin
(Address 149 Wilmot Ave, Chicago, Ill)

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