Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-12-19

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From the Des Moines uowa) State Register
There was one happy household, at
least, in Folk county ON Thanksgiv-
ing Day. There was rejoicing and
cause for rejoicing, in the home Of
J ohm Cressout, of Washington town
ship, over the return Of son whom
they had not seen nor heard from for
IL years.
In 1860, John Cressout, an humble
tiller of the soil in the Buckeye State,
resolved to move to the rich prairies
Of Iowa with hope of lettering his
condition. His family consisted Of
his wife and two children--a boy of
Is and . girl Of 10. His health and
and that Of his family was good, and
| he thought that by settling upon .
new farm upon the fertile prairies of
Iowa, he might secure a competence
for himself and them. Accordingly
| he sold his farm in Ohio and with his
family took up his weary journey
overland towards the setting sun.
In those days the railroad facilities
were not 30 abundant as at present,
and the only direct and passable route
laid through the city Of Chicago
When he arrived at Chicago he tar
tied few days in order to confer
with some land owners in reference
to the purchase of q farm. During
their stay in the city, Robert, his son
lavailed himself of the opportunity tC
See the sights, and accompanied hi
father in his walks about town. Ont
, day, while his father was busily en-
gagged in conversation with land
broker, Robert stepped out, and see
ing large crowd down the street
thought he would 60 and find out
] what was the matter. When b.
{ reached the mob and found that /
, was only street auction, he determ
: ined to 20 farther on, and pursued
: his walk down the street until b.
: reached the wharf, where the ship
and steamers were lying by the hun
> dreds. Having never seen q steam
). boat before, he was naturally lost IL
. wonder. Seeing q great crowd en-
l tering one Of the large steamboats,, b.
j. thought he would 60 on also, an,
AVOA 0GVuuu1 30 AC 0ORkV0ONA sAO Wv w
i were doing. So he went aboard AM
wandered down into the cabin, an
b finally down into the hold, where tn
Q great engines were situated. Will
t engaged in viewing the wonder
e about him the steamer loosed her ca
bles and started on her journey acros
r the lake. He suddenly became awar
e of the fact that the steamer was mo,
e ing and fastened on deck-but to
t late. The vessel was far out In til
r lake, and when he reached the uppe
i deck the city of Chicago, that held a
n that was dear ON earth tc him, VIZ
!, only speck In the distance. He toll
e his story to the Captain, but in vail
II The Captain thought he was only
d q vagabond, who was cndeavoring
l. steal his passage over the lake, an
e would not listsn to him but told hi
10 If he did not keep quiet he would d
10 liver him up to the officers of the ID
j. on their arrival ct Grand Haven, an
l. and have him putin prison. So Ro
,e ert was compelled to dry his tea
"a and conceal his emotion, knowir
,e that every revolution of the gre
" paddle wheels of the steamer bo
e. him farther away from his paren
and his sister.
al vnA- ~. H>xl a.. rc,,r 4 %ba% h;o ~