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…………









Feb. 12, 1888 John Franklin Benjamin-1857 to John Benjamin-1823

Hutchinson. Minn.
Feb. 12, 1888
Dear Father,
In reply to yours of the 8th would say that we shipped 190 lbs. chickens to B & S on Saturday which were OK.   I see by last night’s Stockman that your train did not leave C. [Chicago] until Friday 8:30 PM which would give you one day more to visit which would probably give Uncle time to make up his mind to go with you.
All have gone to church but G & L [Robert Gleave & Sarah Louise?].  We expect to get a letter from you this noon from Chicago according to an article in the Leader.  Uncle will accompany you to New Orleans & other southern points.  If you are not suited with armoured you had better look at other likely points in the south & if you conclude to take in St. Andrews Bay let me know & will send you the No. of our lots so you might look them up to see how many thousand we have made by the speculation.
Do not look at the country with an eye single to dairying alone for you are getting too old to follow that business & if there is as much labor connected with the business in LA as there is in Minn I believe you have no sons that wants to pull teats for a living.  Make a thorough search of the government lands.  Inquire the price of good horses & colts, farm machinery, tools, etc.  Also, ask Uncle the cost of fiting up a saw mill & what he could furnish a power wood saw for here. 
Who does that best girl on earth look like?  What is her name?   How old is she?  What kind of a place doers Corbin got?  How much land has he?  What kind of timber grows there & does it grow the year round?    What are the greatest drawbacks to the country, if any?  When you write, answer all of these questions & a thousand others which I have not time to ask.
They have returned from church but brought no mail. 
That steer seems to be about the same.  I put two canebrake tubes into him in holes made with a pen knife just forward of the hip bones which look like two smoke stacks or pipes which carries off the gas like smoke as fast as it generates in him & stinks like a – so bad that it killed one of my little lambs. 
About three inches of snow fell yesterday.  Just right for another blizzard though no wind today.  The folks are all kicking around but myself, & I am sick abedstead. 
I hope this will find you enjoying a southern climate.  I remain your affectionate.
Frank

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