This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Yl.2ADE/347.343 Message Board Post: Most immigrants landing in New York who went west either went by train (depending on the date) or via canal boat and river boat. At one time there was a canal that went thru upper Illinois. Some would have gone via canal and great lakes to chicago. If they left the boat and went directly to Iowa they usually already had kindred living in Iowa who helped them. If it tooks years to get to iowa they probably drifted west thru Pensylvania and then to Ohio to Illinois and then Iowa. Iowa was a territory for a long while and most did not come to iowa until after the Indian "trouble" was in hand. A good rule of thumb is to look at old maps during the "era" when your ancestors were traveling west. It will show you the land routes opened and what territories were being settled. They will also indicate the navaigable rivers and canals.