This poem (or an earlier version of it) is attributed to
Benjamin Franklin. Its earliest known appearance was in the
Poor Richard's Almanack of
1758:
A little neglect may breed great mischief:
For want of a nail the shoe was lost;
For want of a shoe the horse was lost;
and for want of a horse the rider was lost.
The
Mother Goose version takes things a bit farther.
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/loa/bf1758.htm