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 30, 1876 Edwin Benjamin-1833 to John Benjamin-1823

Milwaukee
June 30, 1876
Dear John,
I have been here most all week and Frances has been to Belvidere to see Jammie.  I think now that I wrote to you from Saginaw.  I am very tired although I feel better than I did for part of the week.  Monday I overworked myself and got very warm and did not think what I was doing and at night I was really afraid that I was going to bed sick so I went to the train as soon as I could and went to the factory and brought one of the men here to help me so that I got along somewhat easier after that.   He went home last night. 
I am going to stay until tomorrow noon.  I have got an old eastern machine to ship back and I am going to see to it.  I took it in part trade for mine, a large powerful machine it is too.   I will rebuild it and make it over to my machine.  I think that I can make a good thing out of it.  I suppose that I shall be up your way again soon with a faster running machine than any I ever have made so that you will perhaps hear something about it in the papers.  Also a letter from the party that I have just put in a machine here for here in Milwaukee. 
Frances is coming with me.  I don’t really know whether she intends to come and see you or not.  I shall leave that with her and if she don’t you will have to excuse her for she is not well at all and she may think that she could not stand the ride from Glencoe to your place.   But the expense would not be much for you and Elizabeth to come there and I know you would enjoy it, but still we will see. 
I am so busy that I don’t really know what to do first but still I can’t do only so much anyway and there is one thing very certain.   I must take care of myself and not do more than I am able to stand and I am going to take warming in time. 
I suppose that your crops are looking nicely now.  I see that the prospects are good most everywhere.   I suppose you are in for Tilden[1].   They say we are to have plenty of money if we have him, but I am going for Hayes.  Hooray for Hayes!
Give my love to all, hoping that this will find you all well as this leaves me pretty well.
From yours affectionately,
Edwin
[1] Tilden ran against Rutherford Hayes for President in 1876.


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