Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1877-12-14
THE LOST Is FOUND.
After Seventeen Years Wondering n
Polk County Boy Finds His Home.
Iowa STATE Register.

least, Ill 1olk county on thanksgiving
day. There was rejoicing, and cause
for rejoicing, III the home Of John Ores
sout, of Washington township, over the
return Of il SON, whom they had not
seen nor heard from for II years
In 1860, Mr.. John Cressout, an hum
bic tilIcr Of the soil in the Buckeye
state, resolved to move to the rich pra-
tries Of Iowa, with II hope Of lettering
his condition His family consisted Of
his wife and two children,-a boy Of
thirteen and 4 girl If ten. His health
and that Of his family Was good and he
thought that by settling upon i new
farm upon the fertile prarlcs Of Iowa,
lie might secure competence for hlm-
self and them. Accordingly he sold his
farm i'll Ohio. and with his family took
up his weary journey overland toward
the setting sun.
lii those DAYS the railroad facilities
werenot 50 abundant us ut the present,
and the only direct and passahle route
laid through the city Of Chicago When
he arrived at Chicago he tarricd i few
days i'll order to confer with some land
owners III reference to the purchase Of
Il farm. During their stay i'll the city
Robert his son, availed himself of the
opportunity to see the sights, and nc
companied his father in his walks about
town. One day, while his father was
buisily engaged in conversation with 4
land broker, Robert stepped out and,
seeing large crowd down the street,
thought he would so and find out what
was the matter. When he reached the
mob and found that it WAS only street
auction, lie determined tog farther on,
and pursued his walk down the street
until he reached the wharf, where the
ships and steamboats, were lying by the
hundreds Having neverseen steam
boat before, he was naturally lost IN
wonder. Seeing q great crowd entering
one Of the large steamboats,, he thought
he would go on also. and look around
rs he supposed the crowd was dong.
So lie went aboard and wandered down
into the cabin, and finally down into the
hold where the great engines were situ-
ated. While engaged III viewing the
wonders about him the steamer loosed
her cables, and started ON her journey
over the lake. He suddenly became
aware Of the fact that the steamer was
moving, and FASTENED on deck-but too
late. The vessel was far out III the
lake, and when he reached the upper
deck, the city Of Chicago, that held all
that was dear on earth to him, was only
spec i'll the distance. He told his
story to the Captain, but III vain. The
Captain thought he was only \ vaga-
bond who was endeavoring to steal his
passage over the lake, and would not
listen to him, but told him if he did not
keep quiet he would deliver him up to
the officers Of the law on their arrival
i'll Grand Haven, and have him put in
prison. SO Robert was compelled to
dry his tears, and conceal his emotion,
knowing that every revolution Of the
great paddle wheels Of the steamer bore
him farther away from isparents and
sister.
When his father found his boy was
lost lie secured the aid Of several dctec-
tives, and made Il thorough search Of
the city, to find him, but i'll vain. After
II fruitless search cf over Il week, lie was
to give his son up Us lost,
and pursue his iourneying toward Iowa.
The mothers grief knew no bounds
She wept continually and Ike .kachael
Of old, refused to he comforted Her
hoy.-her only son, the pride Of her
heart, was lost and only God knew
what his fate may have been 20, with
j broken heart and ANXIOUS mind. She
took up her Journey with her husband
and daughter TO their new home ~
L a "a
Iowa. They reached this state IL the
fall Of 1860, and settled OH = new farm
Of 100 acres, ~ Washington township,
Polk county. Fortune favored them,
and Mr.. Cressout made money very
fast lie WAS II prudent economical