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 13, 1880 John Benjamin-1823 to Sonia & Olive Benjamin

Holmes City
June 18, 1880
Dear Sonia & Olive,
I have written to Robby & Frank both but forgot to mention to either whether or not I paid Mr. Higs the 2 5/100 dollars maintenance money due him on the last notice.  I wish you would tell Robby to try & get the money from Mr. Goodnow & pay it to Mr. Higgins.  I think it will be due on the 15th of this month.  You also tell the boys to clear the bush out of the trees & mow down the weeds and grass if possible for they will go to seed now ___.
We have all just returned from church in a visit to a friend of Williams who is very sick & not expected to live from one hour to another.
___ __ & all are very hungry & sis is going to work getting dinner for this ___ crowd.  The weather is beautiful today but the roads are abominable.  No bottom to them in some places in these woods.  The storm of day before yesterday was very severe.  Between this place and Alexandria the wind blew so hard that trees & houses & barns were blown down in all directions.  The thunder & the lightening was most terrific.  One young lady a short distance from here was killed by lightening & a sister of hers was also struck & badly hurt at the same time.   I don’t know how we are able to get home over such roads I am sure, unless they dry up before long.  May is at her aunt’s & is expected here tomorrow to go to Alexandria some days the coming week if it is possible.  We met with Frank McKenzie today for the first time.   Him & his wife is expected here to see us this afternoon.  They live about ½ mile from here.  Frank looks old and careworn.  Nearly all the settlers about here are Swedes & Norwegians.  No society of any kind, only of the above class & they are too clannish for white folks.
Have the boys fixed up the milk house or not, for the warm weather will compel you to move the milk there, if not already done.  ___ says that she is going to write to aunty soon.  Give our kindest love & regards to them, hoping that this may find you all & them two in the full enjoyment of good health.  We expect to hear from some of you now soon. 
I think it will be useless for you to write for there is no certainty of our receiving your letters at all, for all, or about all, the mail from here goes via Alexandria and Minneapolis and takes about four days for a letter to get found, and as we expect leave here the last of the week, the weather permitting.  Tell Byron & Winfred we have not forgotten them but on the contrary think & talk of them & all of you daily. 
Our united love to you all.  From your affectionate,
Father
My Dear Children,
I have just returned from looking over William’s Sugar Bush.  There is a beautiful little stream of water running through it.   We have been meeting today and on the way we overtook Frank McKenzie.  Him and his wife are here now.  He is looking a good deal older than older than he ought to.  Our meeting was held in a log school house.
I think you may venture to write to us if you write right away for the roads are very bad and we shall have to stay until the roads are better for they are awful now.  Tell aunty and uncle I shall write to them tomorrow.  Give our love to all of them and all the folks.  Arthur wants me to tell Bryon and Winfred to mow the popcorn. 
Our love to all, hoping these few lines will find you all well.  From your affectionate,
Mother

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