Americans have moved West by various means in the four centuries Europeans have settled in the land.
Waterway was certainly common — and at times the most comfortable. Remember, roads were poor and early stagecoaches (or private carriages) did not come equipped with shock absorbers. Many men walked leading a horse or mule carrying a heavy pack.
Railroads made an entrance in the mid-19th century and soon showed many advantages.
So if you were moving from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1851, you had options. Kurt Tafel, in the sweet romance Stitching a Dream makes the majority of his travel by riverboat. Here’s a grand example of one which traveled on the Ohio River. I imagine him on a more modest model — but with similar route and accommodations.
For more information on the sweet historical romance, follow the link. This one takes you to the Nook edition: https://bit.ly/3Ri8RNX
