March 2, 1890 John Benjamin-1823 to Family

Roseland, La

March 2, 1890

Dear Ma and All the Dear Ones,

Your letter of the 25^th has come to hand tonight.  We are glad to hear that you, Ma, was improving but sorry to hear that Winfred was not very well.   I hope that he is all right ere this reaching you.  Glad to hear that you received my letter of last week and its contents all right.   Am glad that you were able to help Arthur to get his board paid and pants too.   I have been obliged to get an overcoat and two pairs of pants since I came here.  I sent to Boston to Plymouth Rock Pants Co for last pair as I could not get any to fit any nearer. 

Your cold wave reached us here on Friday last when instead of snow, as with you, we had wind and heavy rain and frost yesterday, this morning too, which killed some of the garden truck.   I wrote to Mr. Adams last week.  I hope to hear from the friends there that they are all doing well over the La grippe. 

How is Uncle Henry getting along?   I have not heard you say anything about him lately.   I hope he is well.  Give my kindest regards to him.   Have not heard from Arthur the past week.  When is his vacation?  Let me know when you write.  What has Robbie done about Howard’s colt?

Ma, you must be very careful that you do not take cold by going into the creamery or out of doors to hunt eggs.  While it is so cold, any set back after the La Grippe is something worse than the grippe itself, so it behooves you to be very careful in this respect .   Not to be too venturesome. 

I hope that both Frank & Minnie have both got well again.   I shall be glad to hear from Winfred when he has time to write me.  Also from Robbie and Mattie too.

My love and regards to all and all enquiring friends.   From,

Father

PS – I have just returned from taking care of a sick man…. now PM.  As I was called away, George came in with a fine letter from Winfred which I shall answer soon.  I don’t have time tonight as I must go and [visit] this man again.  Have written to Arthur today.  Howard & Olive are with the sick, and George too.  Louise & I are in the house for a few minutes.  The girls intended to write.

Yours,

Father

Feb. 9, 1890 M. A. Garner-1838 to Elizabeth Benjamin-1830

Cucamonga

Feb. 9^th, 1890

Dear Auntie & Winfred,

Your letters from yesterday impressed me very much and I hasten to answer as I wish you are getting better and you will not venture to do work that is not fit for you till you are entirely well.  If the milk and butter gets neglected, don’t you mind about it.  If you are laid up for weeks by being over ambitious, where will the saving come in?  I think now they can all take care of themselves and why should you worry so much?  Your health has been good but you are not getting younger and it is not expected you should do so much.  Be careful.

Now I want to know what has become of Frank and his wife.  You never mentioned them and you say you are alone.  I thought they would have lived with you when the family was so much smaller.  Do you like his wife, or what reason is there?  I feel sorry if you are not comfortable and satisfied with what he has done.   He was old enough to take a wife and she is not young.   Tell me on your next letter. 

We had a letter from Uncle last week and he says the girls will all write to us soon.  There is not much prospect for Richard in work if we should think of going there.  I won't want to work any more land.  I should like a little house and lot the same as Hutchinson and Richard working at something before we receive any benefit, and we are getting older and most likely the children will not care always to live here.  So if we do not put anything more on, most likely we shall get just as much for it.  I believe land here will be always ___ in value and we have not got so many home ties as you have to leave.  You have been so long  there and worked so hard to improve the place, but after all, we have to leave it sometime. 

We wrote to Mr. Adams about our property in Hutchinson.  We have not heard from him yet.    I suppose things will be very quiet there now, but we really need money now.  We have gotten along so far very sparingly and we did hope that we would be able to do without a little longer, but it does.  Besides land, we don’t seem to prosper in trying to farm.   We have been thinking that we might make an exchange, but we shall want money as well because land is so much cheaper than it is here.   We don’t know what to do for the best.  We have been five years here next Friday and we don’t know whether to prove up on our place or not.  We like the climate so much, but there are so many other drawbacks for us.  Other people do not feel it as we do because they keep horses and cows and can get along somehow.  I sometimes feel it is useless putting any more expense on it.  We want a rabbit proof fence and about twenty acres more plowed and put into vines and then have to wait five years, and expenses going on all the while is impossible.  But I will not trouble you with that as I know you must be worrying about so many things.  I wish we would see each other once more .  I think my tongue would go till you forgot about butter and everything else.  

I must keep you busy writing to all of them.  How is Annie?  Has William got better?  What are the girls going to do?  They will be useful now if they are good.   Have they been prosperous on the farm or have they had any losses?  Bobbie I hope is better now.  Do you think you caught cold with going to see him?   I remember you coming to me when __ throat was bad.   What dreadful cold time it was.  It just makes me shudder to think of it.  I never want to go through the same again.  It has been very cold here this winter.  The glass stood a freezing point and then it rained for some days, but we do not get too much water where we are.  But some neighbors about three miles away – their land got washed and gulleyed out; but no loss, only work.   Sunday morning we had an earthquake, the hardest I have felt.   It lasted, I should think, about 3 or 4 seconds.  It made me feel rather sick.  We were in bed and today it is blowing a regular Northeaster, a sand storm.  I hope this will be the last for the winter. 

Papa is out pruning and Walter gone to school and I have a fire.  The glass stands at 75 in the shade.   I sent your likes to Marion as I had just been writing to her.  She had a cold, but I hope if the weather keeps warm we shall all pull through.   I suppose by you get this Winfred will have it but he will try to keep up as long as he can. 

Write soon as you can.  Best love from all to all. 

Affectionately,

M. A. G.

August 17, 1889 John Benjamin-1823 to Olive Benjamin Bacon-1864

Hutchinson, Minn.

August 17, 1889

Dear Howard & Olive,

No Sunday letter from you this week, how is this?  Ma thinks something must of happened  ___ or a letter ought to be here last Wednesday, but no letter came.   We shall look for a long letter next week.  I hope that the stove will reach you in due time without any delay. 

Ma and I were at Mr. Smith’s ___ last Tuesday.  I’ve had a nice time there & I made myself generally useful in threading needles for the ___; i.e. Mrs. Rollins, Mrs. Barber & they made a condition present that I should not get any dinner unless I threaded the needles for them, & you better believe I worked like a major for my supper, which I enjoyed hugely.   Mrs. Smith says she will have another big B for my special benefit if I only agree to go there to thread the needles for the ___.   What do you think I had better do, go or not?  Well, I will take for granted that you will say yes, so will go if I feel well enough to stand it, for it is so laboring you know to wait on so many ___ in one day, no rest. 

Ma & I took in the picnic yesterday & had a good time again there.   Went from there Mr. Abbots to tea & Mrs. Abbots put me to bed to rest before tea for a short time.  There is a daughter of theirs from Iowa on a visit at their house just now.  Should say that she is larger than Mr. Graham.  She & Mrs. Byrnes make a strong team.  I tell you, nothing small about either of them. 

Where Ma and myself will go next I know not, as the invitations come in thicker & faster than ever.  I think, however, we can stand it, the invitations I mean, if not all of the friends sumptuous entertainment of us .  I tell you,  you do not know really how people appreciate you until you are sick almost unto death as I have been.   I find now that I have more friends than ever. 

The boys are busy haying as yet.  We have a lot of very fine hay put up so far; very little rain to spoil any of it as yet.  Am working up the car business for George as fast as I can.   Think I can get it for less than $124 by & by, or before George gets ready to leave. 

My hip, knee & shoulder are not any better; am in pain all of the time more or less. Otherwise my general health is good.  Ma says that she is not going south.  She does not like to leave the boys alone.   But if I go, she must too as I am not able to dress or undress without her assistance.

Love to you both,

Father

Feb. 7, 1890 John Benjamin-1823 to Family

Roseland, La

Feb. 7, 1890

Dear Ma and All at Home,

As I am anxious about you all, I write again today hoping & trusting you are all better than when you wrote.  We are all as usual here.

I wrote to Annie yesterday as they, too, were in the grip of la grippe.   No cases here as yet and I hope never will be.  You all were affected with it; must keep warm and not expose yourselves to the cold in any way. 

We are having quite a heavy rain today with lightning and thunder too.   George & Howard were planting cucumbers & radish seeds yesterday.  You will ask Robbie for the Amite city paper which he will get for this week.  There is to be an article published upon Roseland in it.  It will interest you all.   I hope to hear that Uncle Henry has recovered from his sickness.   I gave a list of names in the town to have copies of the paper sent to so they will know where they came from or who sent them. 

Why don’t M. H. Smith and W. T, Higgins write me?  I hope they are all well during the cold winter you are having.   My kind regards to Dr. Wakefield & to Adamz and all enquiring friends.

Affectionately yours,

Father

Feb. 6, 1890 Olive Benjamin Bacon-1864 to Family

Roseland, La

Feb. 6, 1890

Dear Mama and All,

We had a postal from Robert Tuesday - one from Frank today and a letter from Winfred.  We were so glad to hear from you again and how you were all getting along with la grippe.  I’m sorry you needed to have it at all but hope in due time you will fully recover from it.  It must be very hard for mama as she is so seldom ill, for mama mine you know one thing, people who get up too soon after having the grippe always have a relapse.   Now remember and stay in bed till the doctor says you may get up or until you feel well & strong -  then don’t go right at work – but be very careful & take everything easy, for if you do not you may have to stay in bed all winter - so tis best to be prudent to begin with.  Winfred, you see that she does not get up in less than two weeks from the time she was taken with it first.  Wait on her, read & talk & tell all the funny things you can think of to make her forget she is in bed.  I’m so glad, Winfred, that you still keep well & hope you will but take good care of yourself and do not take cold or you might be sick too and that would make it very bad all round.  It was a good idea to get Frank Wolford to help you as it was too much for you to do alone.  Hope Minnie will not take it as she is so little and then what would the others do without their good nurse.  Glad Frank has it no harder – he can help Minnie so much in the house then.  Wish we might be spirited there to help you all at this time.  We were all thankful that Mattie, Robbie & baby recovered and seem to be getting along so well.  Take care & not be too venturesome until you have all fully recovered.  We are all anxious about you -  are in our minds constantly.  No one that we know has had it yet in Roseland.  We hope to escape it. 

At last our barrels of millet are here and we have just opened them and have all been eating raisons.  Wesie sits by the table munching them now and father has just quit.  I am chewing away on them as fast as I know how.  My but they are good. 

I got the picture, mama, and it is as natural as ever (you know it never was a very good one).  Have it standing on the piano now.  Wish I had original here instead of the picture (I don’t mean standing on the piano).  Would give you the easiest chair in the house.  What a jolly big time we would have.  Papa keeps so well.  Once in a while he has a little bad turn but every time it comes from eating too heartily.  You ought to see such an appetite as he has.  He won’t own up to it but he is always ready for his meals & enjoys them even if we do not have lots of pies, cakes & delicate dishes.  We have to watch him all the time and particularly when we have beans twice on Sunday.  I have to set the dish away so he can’t get them the second time.  We have lots of fun about it.  He tells us we don’t want him to be sick so we tell him when he has eaten enough.  Since then he has been better. 

We have attended service two or three at night & nearly every Sunday here.  The __ __ minister from Amile is just splendid & everybody likes him.   Howard has had a class a few Sundays & I had a class of lively little folks a week last Sunday.  We enjoy the S. S. very much but they are using a new kind of lesson paper of David Cooks so do not have same kind of lesson as you all do.  We have prayer meetings every Thursday night & tonight Howard leads it – subject: “Righteousness”.  We do not attend anything else in the colony but what I have mentioned as most everything is in connection with a dance & we have neither money nor time to waste on such foolishness. 

It is thundering and is trying to rain.  We need rain very much.  The boys have been at home today setting out live oaks, banana trees, and holly.  After dinner sowed their cucumber seeds.  William Collins (Mrs. Payson’s adopted son) came with the team yesterday & helped sow radish, potatoes, & c.   Howard went to Amile to attend to business of Uncle Sam’s and I went with him to Mrs. Payson as was not very well.  Got our phaeton shafts home the same time & will soon drive Lady again.  That itch the horses have all been having is making Lady poor. 

It was Wesie’s birthday yesterday so I bought her a lovely bouquet of flowers from Mrs. Payson’s – wish you could see them.  How I wish you could all come down on the excursion.  They expect a big crowd here & will give them a reception.   What do you think of our letter in the Farm Field & Stockman? Father would not let me rest till I had it off so if you see any imperfections please overlook.  Of course, it is father’s letter.   

Wesie, the others will write soon.  All send lots of love & wishes for your speedy recovery.  Also many thanks for all that came in the barrels.  Wish we were able to send for butter. 

Lovingly,

Olive

Let us hear often if only a word or two.  Hope you won’t have to miss those examinations, Winfred, but if you do that is not the worst thing which could happen.

Feb. 6, 1890 John Benjamin-1823 to Family

Roseland, LA

Feb. 6, 1890

Dear Ones at Home,

I received Winfred’s letter & Frank’s came about an hour ago.  We are very sorry to hear that Ma was so sick.  We hope that ere this reaches you that she is much better.   I hope that she will not expose herself to the cold so as to cause a relapse.   I know that Mattie will do all in her power to take care of her in our absence.  And Minnie too, I have no doubt, will do her part.   Do not let her worry any on our account at all as we are well and enjoying the beautiful weather.   It looks now likely to rain as it is thundering quite heavy. 

I hope that Frank will soon recover so as it will not be so hard for Winfred to do all the chores.   Now Janson is sick too. 

I trust the next time I hear from you all that you have recovered.  We have not had any cases of la grippe in the colony.    There was two young men here who said they had it but I doubt it very much.   Keep your courage all around.   Do not worry as this will only make matters worse for all. 

Write often as you can if only a line or two.  Love to all. 

Affectionately,

Father

Jan. 15, 1890 Sarah Louise Benjamin Cook-1862 to Elizabeth Benjamin-1830

ROSELAND COLONY COMPANY

Dr. John Benjamin – Local Manager

Roseland, LA

1890

Dear Mother & All,

Seems as if time goes so fast that we don’t get as many letters scattered in as we ought.  Received a letter from Robbie yesterday, or H did.  We are very glad to hear you are so much better.  Hope you will still improve and you must not worry about anything for you know it never does any good and only makes you feel worse.   Hope that by this time next year you will be in the “sunny south” although it has not been so sunny for a week.  We had such a heavy frost the first part of last week it did a great deal of damage even as far as Florida.  Such a frost has not been known for years but you don’t have so much as north for you can plant again.

Have 46 little chickens.  Eight of the eggs hatched that we got from South Carolina  We let the little hen that Mrs. Payson gave Olive take care of them in a yard George made.  She had set three times and we took pity on her.  Have sold 4 ½ dozen and am saving another to sell.  No one grumbles at the price, 50 cts.  If my thoroughbreds do well may raise the price next year.   So many lost young chics during the cold snap but ours are doing well so far. 

The boys are at work at Mr. Chapins again.  They have a farm to build for a new comer & a store for Mr. Isands.  Guess our house will have to wait a little longer. 

Mattie should like a long letter from thee.  Tell us all about that precious toy.  He must be growing.  Wonder if we should know him.  I dreamt of him the other night.  Could see him just as plain running his horses about the house & having a great time.  Does his grandma see him often?  Glad he was home to cheer her up while she was sick. 

Father has to go down town…says he hasn’t time to write this time.   Must bring this to a close for he wants to take it to the office.

Trusting you are all well, with much love from,

Louisa

Winfred, we want a letter from you.  I am so glad you have been such a help to mother.  A good son & brother is such a comfort.