San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-12-22
ALOST BOYS ADVENTURES.
Home Again After Seventeen Years. Wan.
derings-A Happy Thanksgiving Day In
an Iowa Farm. House.


derings-A Happy Thanksgiving Day IL
an Iowa Farmhouse.
From the Des Moines Qa.) Register.l
There was one happy household, a,
least, in Polk County on Thanksgiving
Day. There was rejoicing, and cause
for rejoicing, in the home of John Ores
sout, of Washington Township, over the
return Of son, whom they had moi
seen or heard from for seventeen years.
In 1860, Mr.. John Cressout, an hum
BILE tiller of the soil in the Buckeye
State, resolved to remove to the rich
prairies of Iowa with hope Of better
ing his condition. His family consisted
of his wife and two Children boy OF
thirteen and a girl of ten. His health
and that of his family was good, and he
thought by settling upon a new farm
upon the fertile prairies Of Iowa, he
might secure competence for himself
and them. Accordingly he sold his
farm in Ohio, and with his family took
up his weary journey overland toward
the setting sun.
In those days the railroad facilities
were not as abundant as at the present,
and the only direct and passable route
laid through the city of Chicago. When
he arrived at Chicago he tarried few
days in order to confer with some land
owners in reference to the purchase of a
farm. During their stay in the city,
Robert, his son, availed himself of the
opportunity to see the sights, and ac-
companied his father in his walks about
town. One day, while his father was
busily engaged in conversation with
land-broker, Robert stepped out, and,
seeing large crowd down the street,
thought he would 60 and find out what
was the matter. When he reached the
mob and found that it was only street
auction, he determined to 60 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 never seen steam
boat before, he was naturally lost in
wonder. Seeing great crowd entering
one of the large steamboats,, he thought
he would 60 on also, and look around,
as he supposed the crowd were doing.
So he went aboard and wandered down
into the cabin, and finally down into the
hold where the great engines were sit
uated. While engaged in 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 in 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 a
speck in the distance. He told his story
to the Captain, but in vain. The Cap
tain thought he was only a vagabond
who was endeavoring to steal his pas
sage 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 at Grand Ha
ven, 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 his parents and sister.
When his father found his boy was
lost he secured the aid of several detect
ives, and made thorough search of the
city to find him, but in vain. After a
fruitless search of over a week, he was
compelled to give his son up as lost,and
pursue his journeying toward Iowa. The
mothers grief knew no bounds. She
wept continually, and, like Rachel of
old, refused to be comforted. Her boy
her only son, the pride of her heart
was lost, and only God knew what his
fate may have been. So, with broken
heart and anxious mind, she took up her
journey with her husband and daughter
to their new home in Iowa. They reach
ed this State in the fall of 1860, and set
tied on a new farm of 16G acres, in
Washington Township, Polk County.
Fortune favored them, and Mr.. Cres-
sout made money very fast. He was a
prudent, economical man, and his wife
was the best of wives-in every sense a
helpmeet. His lands grew. broader, his
herds multiplied, and in few years he