Preface

Preface

The following pages are presented to the public in the hope that, imperfect as in many respects they are, they may still be the means of effecting some good, by assisting in directing the attention of Emigrants and others, to a portion of the United States, which all, who have examined it, unite in representing—to use the words of a distinguished English traveler—as “one of the finest domains that nature ever offered to man.”

So superior are its attractions, that those who have never seen them, will probably be inclined to doubt the correctness of their faithful delineation.

Under this impression, the writer, to corroborate the views which a continuous residence upon the spot, since 1836, has enabled him to form—has taken the liberty of availing himself, freely, of the interesting testimony of many other eye witnesses; the combined weight of which, it is hoped, will prove sufficient to satisfy even the most skeptical, that Iowa and Wisconsin are, at least, worth visiting.

The second part of these “Sketches,” (embracing Wisconsin) being in a state of forwardness, is intended to appear with as little delay as possible.

Sinipee, Wisconsin, May, 1839

Sketches of Iowa and Wisconsin by John Plumbe Jr. is fascinating to me. Plumbe’s expressed intention “to direct the attention” to a certain domain of the United States is based on superiority of “attractions” rather than potential for exploitation. The ensuing pages act not to inspire reasoned contemplation of freely available resources (no land of milk and honey here), but rather an abstract sort of wonder at the views available to a Midwestern resident.

The first step in promoting settlement is suggesting that the place is “at least, worth visiting.”

November 8, 2005 1:40 PM