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 25, 1876 Richard Garner-1838 to John Benjamin-1823

77 Islington, Liverpool
June 25, 1876
Dear Brother & Sister,
Our fond hope little boy, Richard, is laid in his coffin just now.  Our dear son departed this life at 5:40 AM June 24th.  He succumbed to diseases of the brain left by the measles.  I do not know how M. A. will get over it, but the first voyage in September or the last in August that the Marathon Maker will the time now.  
We are going to bury our darling in Wales, for M. A. and myself could not think of boy being buried away from his father’s home.  He will stop at Brynford Church just three miles out of Holywell on the hill on the west side of Pen-Y-Bale Mountain with his cousin Annie buried 8 years ago in same grave.   
Joseph has been very kind to us.  Marian is staying there now.  I do not know what I should have done without Joseph.   M. A. is distracted.  I don’t know how this trouble will end.  I hardly know what I am doing myself.  So when we come do not remind us of our affliction, but try to cheer M. A. for she is very low.   
I said we should be poor in last letter what with furniture not selling for I saw that they wanted to rob me.  I sent most of it to Joseph to be sold by him after we come out to you or if we got lost in coming out to you the property was to be his.  And you see our ___ is very heavy for we got the best of advice & treatment for our departed loved one, but not more of this just now. I will tell you all again for it disheartens me so to think about him.   The pride of our hearts, the joy of his mother and all mothers, the love of all the neighbors.  Oh! me thinks my heart will break to put him in the cold ground, so young & strong and full of heart.   We have got him a good English oak coffin covered with black cloth with metal plated handles, ornaments, etc., with this inscription on shield plate: “Richard Taylor Garner died June 24th, 1876, aged three years.”  Oh may our heavenly Father spare our Marian to us to meet you.  Intent to good health is the prayer of your unhappy brother.  I have had a lot of other troubles that make me poor indeed, but the loss of my son is the hardest of all.  Do forgive me for my weakness,
RTG

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