His chief desire was to leave Germany and emigrate to America.  The American Revolution had brought the “New Land” into great prominence; and one of the brothers, Henry Astor, had already settled in New York as a butcher, and his letters had the effect of increasing John Jacob’s desire to follow him.  It was impossible to do so then, for the war which was raging in this country made it any thing but inviting to an emigrant, and the boy was entirely ignorant of the English language.  Nevertheless, he knew that the war could not last always, and he resolved to go as soon as peace would allow him.  Meanwhile he wished to join his elder brother, who had removed to London, and was now engaged with his uncle in the manufacture of musical instruments.  In London he thought he could acquire a knowledge of English, and save from his wages the amount necessary to pay his passage from England to America.  He could reach some of the seaports of the Continent by walking.  But he needed money to pay his passage from there to Great Britain.  His determination thus formed, he made no secret of it, and succeeded at length in extorting a reluctant consent from his father, who was not inclined to expect very much from the future career of his son.  His teacher, however, had more faith in him, and said to the butcher, on the morning of the lad’s departure:  “I am not afraid of John Jacob; he’ll get through the world.  He has a clear head, and every thing right behind the ears.”

He was seventeen years old when he left home; was stout and well built, and had a constitution of iron.  He was possessed of a good plain education, and a remarkable degree of common sense.  He had no vicious habits or propensities, and was resolved that he would never set foot again in his native town until he could do so as a rich man.

Ardently as he was bent on seeking his fortune in distant lands, it cost him a struggle to go away, for he was a true German in his attachment to his home and family.  This attachment he never lost.  After providing liberally for his relatives in his will, he made a munificent donation to his native village for the benefit of its poor children.

With his scanty wardrobe in a bundle, which he slung over his shoulder by a stick, and a mere pittance in his purse, he set out from Waldorf, on foot, for the Rhine.  “Soon after I left the village,” said he, in after-life, “I sat down beneath a tree to rest, and there I made three resolutions:  to be honest, to be industrious, and not to gamble.”  He had but two dollars in his pocket; but this was enough for his purpose.  The Rhine was not far distant from his native village, and this part of his journey he easily accomplished on foot.  Upon reaching the river, he is said to have secured a place as oarsman on a timber raft.  The timber which is cut in the Black Forest for shipment is made up into rafts on the Rhine, but instead of being suffered to float down the stream, as in this country, is rowed by oarsmen, each raft having from sixty to eighty men attached to it.  As the labor is severe and attended with some risk, the wages are high, and the lot of the oarsmen not altogether a hard one, as they manage to have a great deal of sport among themselves.  The amount paid as wages on these voyages is about ten dollars, besides the coarse fare furnished the men, and the time occupied is about two weeks.