Scratching Beneath the Surface:

Using Speeches to Understand the Past

To be a good historian requires a love for, and a knowledge of, language. If you haven't had your dictionary out yet, get it now. Youíll need it! But, don't despair. You may also refer to the glossary page of this Website for definitions that will help you understand some of the picturesque and old-timey language that you will encounter in this important document. Also remember, that the dictionary is as much a necessary tool to the seasoned historian as the magnifying glass is to the fowl sleuth in our illustrated icon for these pages. You can start out by looking up the words ëverboseí and ëloquacious.í Early orators and speech writers can usually be described with these terms.

While the speech given by M. Wheeler Sargeant, Esq. may be difficult to get through; it is well worth the effort. It contains a gold mine of information on the early days of Winona. This is a long and difficult task. Thatís what historians love. But, make it fun. You can read it in small bits at a time. We have taken the liberty to divide it into pieces by adding headings to the original text. They refer to specific incidents and key themes in Minnesotaís Territorial history.

Keep in mind as you consider the following discussion questions that speeches, even though they are a valuable source of information, must face the same tests of reliability as any other sources at the historianís disposal.

1. What is a claim? What is claim-jumping? Discuss some of the ways it was important in the early development of the Minnesota Territory.
2. In a group discussion, tell how what you learned about claims and claim-jumping have changed your ideas about what the early settlers were like and what really motivated them to come here.
3. Groups like the Western Farm and Village Association were not uncommon in the growing West. Often, the "stated" goals they used to recruit members differed from the "real" goals the organizers of these associations had. Discuss the positive and negative ways these differences affected settlers.
4. Find several examples of how the changing shape of the Mississippi River played such an enormous role in the ultimate establishment of towns and cities in the Minnesota Territory. Is it likely that similar situations occurred in other places on the river? On other rivers on other frontiers?
5. Sargeant talks about many settlers in detail. By now, you will recognize many of them, by name, from other sources on this Website. Talk about how your historical images of these people changed, or stayed the same, as you have learned more and more about them.
6. What was the main entree served at Winonaís first Christmas dinner?
7. According to Sargeant, who was the smartest man in Winona County?

History of Winona County, Part I History of Winona County Part II Scratching Beneath the Surface