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. 13, 1888 Winfred Benjamin-1871 to John Benjamin-1823

Hutchinson, Minn.
Feb. 13, 1888
Dear Father,
We received the letter than you wrote from Minneapolis last Wednesday and so we got the chickens ready last Friday and sent them down Saturday morning on the Manitoba by express.  There were about 190 lbs. of chickens all together. 
I went downtown to the post office to get the mail.   We thought that we would get a letter from you but there wasn’t any.   I went to Mr. Lovejoys to get a half ___ of onions but he didn’t have any.  We wanted to get them to give to that yearling that is bloated up so.   Mr. Selmer said that onions would be good for him so I went down after some.  He was bloated up worse the other morning so he couldn’t hardly move or breathe.   So that night Frank took a pen knife and cut a little hole in him and put live grills in him to let the gas out.
I take care of the creamery while I am home, wash it, and ___ the milk out yesterday.  I churned 26 lbs. of butter and there is a big churning for tomorrow. 
Last Thursday morning it was 36° to 40° below zero and so we had to  warm the water that we put in the creamery tank so make the cream rise and the milk right.  So I had to warm the water.
It snowed yesterday so we couldn’t grind any feed for the cows.  Mr. Selmer was here and put his horse in the stable.  They were going to lay out a road from the water town road to the old car road east of Engerbritson. 
You didn’t start from Chicago on the 9th day did you?  You started on the 10th .  The ___ field and Stockman says they would leave Chicago on the 10th of Feb.  Did you go to Uncle’s when you were there?
There was a post card came to you last Friday from the Prairie Farmer saying that they hadn’t received the money for the renewal of the paper and wants you to answer as soon as possible.  You know I went to this post office to see if the money was paid to the Prairie Farmer and the Post workers said that it was, so they are responsible ___. 
Bring me some oranges from Hammond and some peaches.  Arthur didn’t come home this week and he didn’t know you have gone.   They have got  in the Leader that you went to Chicago and from there your brother would accompany you to the south.
Good bye.  Your son,
Winfred

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)