Young Iosa Geraghty works and travels along the Erie Canal where he encounters unscrupulous and vicious characters including the murderous Captain Caleb Black, who plans to sell Iosa and five other youths to prostitution houses in Buffalo and Chicago.

From the depths of a humble canal boy's life rises the extraordinary tale of James A. Garfield, encapsulated in Horatio Alger's remarkable work, 'From Canal Boy to President; Or, the Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield.' Alger, a master of crafting inspirational narratives, weaves together the captivating journey of a young boy destined for greatness. In this riveting account, Alger transports readers to the quaint landscapes of Garfield's early life, where he toiled as a lowly canal boy. Amid the dusty canals and grueling labor, a seed of ambition takes root within Garfield's heart. Alger's prose illuminates the transformative power of determination and perseverance as Garfield's unwavering spirit propels him forward. Through Alger's meticulous storytelling, the reader is drawn into Garfield's world—a world of tireless effort, self-education, and boundless resilience. As Garfield evolves from a canal boy to a renowned scholar, his unwavering commitment to personal growth becomes a testament to the strength of the human spirit.

From Canal Boy to President Or the Boyhood and Manhood of James A. Garfield is a biography by Horatio Alger Jr. Garfield was the 20th president of the United States, lawyer and Civil War military officer who suffered assassination in 1881.

Reproduction of the original: From Canal Boy to President by Horatio Alger

Relates the experiences of the 20th President of the United States during the two teenage years he spent as a canal boy guiding barges from New York to Illinois.

The life and career of Abraham Lincoln are presented in a fictionalized biography, from his youth on the Kentucky frontier to his momentous presidency.