The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-10-03

account illustrative Of the enterprise and de-
termination which belongs to the Yankee
character, than is given in the following
article.
From the Peoria tIiaois) Register Of August H.
OLD mAssAcHUsETTs FOREVER.
An immigrant from Massachusetts, of middle
age, and very respectable appearance, stepped
into our Office accompanied by his son, about
nine years old, on Monday We learned
from him that he had arrived in our country
about month ago, after one of the most adj
venturous overland journeys ever undertaken
We hope to obtain from him full account Of
his tour, and in the mean time present our
readers with the following brief outline:
His name is ISAAC Fl. PRATT, of Middle
borough, Plymouth county, Massachusetts,,
and ship carpenter by occupation Having
family of 6 or 8 children, dependant solely
upon his daily labor, and being with hundreds
of others, thrown out Of employ by the pros
tration Of business in New England, in May
he formed the design Of taking his two eldest
boys and setting off for this country on foot
With him to design was 10 execute Placing
his wife and youngest children with relation,
he started on the 18th of May, with his sons,
one aged and the other g. without cent of
money in his pocket, and no other apailables
than a knapsack Of clothes and provisions,
and carpenters steel square.
The first day he entered Rhode Island,
where he sold his square for a quarter-dollar
and four-pence ha'penny, 81 cents) which
procured them something to eat and lodging
The next day, after reaching 25 miles by the
middle of the afternoon, they stopped at a
farm house, where Mr.. Pratt inquiredi if they
didn't want some odd jobs of carpentering
done-shelves put up-windows tighten
ed or loosened-doors hung or repaired
hen coops made--roofs mended-any thing
in his line to pay for staying over night ?"
Certainly" was the reply" come in and
well set you to work.. So well satisfied
was the farmer with his services, that on
parting early next morning, he filed his KNAPP
sack with provisions to last through the day.
The afternoon he stopped in like manner and
met with the same reception-and thus he
continued all the way to Buffalo on Lake
Erie.-Sometime, in rainy weather, he wonld
remain day with his host, and on two or
three occasions received a few shillings
for his work but the whole amount added
togctHr, of. the money that came into his
hands UP to the time of his arrival at
Chicago, did not amount to five dollars On
reaching the Erie canal he endeavo,ed to
work passage for his boys by driving the
horses himself; but finding that this would
not keep him in food, he left the canal, and
resumed the pedestrian journey. On arriving
at Buffalo, his offer to work his passage to
Detroit was readily accepted; antupon land
ing at the latter place, each resumed his tramp
with great cheerfulness.
In passing over the prairies Of Michigan,
they one day attracted the notice Of COM
pany of stage passengers, who insisted upon
giving the boys lift, and accordingly took
them on ten miles to the dining house, where
they also gave them their dinner, and made
up for them contribution of 81 l-2 cents
Finding laborers in great demand in this
State, our accommodating pedestrian worked
one day in the prairies at moving, for which
another day, though anxious to "get on" he
stopped to lay barn foor.-Yet all his re-
ceipts up to his entering Chicago, as before
stated did not amount to five dollars. At
Chicago he. worked week, by which his
purse was so far replenished as to enable him
to reach here much richer than he left Massa-
chusetts.
He arrived at Peoria on the 18th of July,
having walked with his boys upwards Of 1000
miles, without once appealing 10 the sympa-
thies of the benevolent for a shilling, and
accepting nothing, save his acquiescence in
the stage contribution to his boys, without
rendering what was deemed fair equivalent
Like a genuine son of the pilgrims, he has
too much thrift to sponge, and too much in
dependence to ask or accept a favor. On the
day Of his arrival he was surprised to see in
our streets an old marlborough townsman,
Mr.. Brooks, of the firm of Brooks & Cogs-
well, merchants. The latter, on hearing his
adventures, said boys who had travelled so
well as they had done, deserved something"
and taking them into his store, presented them
with suit of clothes each.
Soon after his arrival, Mr.. Pratt said he
must go and look at the country and take up
claim. So he started off, taking his boys
with him, for the Kickapoo track. Here he
acknowledges himself under many obligations
to Clarke d. Powell, Esq. for his kindness
in showing him the country, and his advice
as to his future operations. He thinks, in
pursuance Of his advice, of buying claim
near Charleston, l6 miles west of here, and
another for his brother in the same neighbor-
hood. He is offered quarter section of
prairie, with quarter of timber half mile
from it for one hundred dollars, He has
seven brothers, all Of whom are inclined to
come here, and only wait for his report of the
country to make up their minds on the sub
ject. '.r