American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-12-15
ALOST BOYS ADVENTURES
Home Again After Seventeen Years. Wan
derinSs-A Happy Thanksgiving Day in
Iowa Farnl-House

Home Again After Seventeen Years Wan
derings-A Happy Thanksgiving Day il
an Iowa Farm-House.
From the Des Moines Ia) Register.I
There was one happy household, al
least, in Polk County on Thanksgiving
Day There was rejoicing, and cause
for rejoicing, in the home of John Cres-
sout, OF Washington Township, over the
return of a son, whom they had not
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 girl of ten. His health
and that of his family was good, and he
thought by settling upon 4 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
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 a
land-broker, Robert stepped out, and,
seeing large crowd down the street,
thought he would go and find out what
was the matter. When he reached the
mob and found that it was only street
auction, he determined to go 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 go 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
speck in the distance. He told his story
to the Captain, but in vain. The Cap
tain thought he was only 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
fruitless search of over a week, he was
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
Did, refused to be comforted. Her boy
her only son, the pride of her heart
vas lost, and only God knew what his
ate may have been. So, with a broken
leart and anxious mind, she took up her
Quincy with her husband and daughter
o their new home in Iowa. They reach
ID this State in the fall of 1860, and set ;
led on a new farm of 16G acres, in
Township, Polk County {
Fortune favored them, and Mr. Cres-
out made money very fast. He was ]
prudent, economical man, and his wife !
vas the best of wives-in every sense a
lelpmeet. His lands grew broader, his :
lerds multiplied, and in few years he
aimed handsome competence. But
he loss of his son was the one great
hadow of his life, as well as that of his
Tife. Around their cheerful fireside the
ubject would be related, and the tears
f sorrow would fall like summer rain
whenever Roberts name was mentioned
But what of Robert? When he found
imsef in Grand Haven, Mich, the
estimation of the steamer, he knew not
That to do. He had no money with
Thich to telegraph to his friends, and no !,
ne would believe his story. So he was
to go to work at something,
nd finally secured employment in a q
arge saw-nlill as driver of saw-dust
art. He worked here for sometime, {
ntil he obtained some money, and then ;
ct about trying to find his parents He !
dvertised in the Chicago papers, but to :
vail. At last he gave it up and con-
luded it was useless to continue the
earch. His life was passed for several .
ears in Michigan. He worked at odd
obs in various towns and cities in that >
Lansing, Ann Arbor, +
ackson, Saginaw, and others. At last :
e determined to come to Iowa, and en- =
eavor once more to find his parents. :
L. III |