Visual Discovery

Picture: From the Graphic Arts collections of the American Antiquarian Society (http://www.teachushistory.org/Westward/ps-bigcolorado.htm)

Crossed the Planes in 1847

Sugartree Grove, Mercer County, Illinois

 James M. and Nancy Coon Started to go to Oregon Aprile 11th - 1847.

 Sunday April 11th, 1847

Got to Oquawka. acalf gave out.

Weather pleasant.

Mon. Apr 12th

Went to Henry Creek. (??????) all night.

Pleasant.

Tue. Apr 13th

Went to James Dill's by 11 oclock.

Pleasant.

Note: James S. Dill and his family must have accompanied this wagon train and completed the trip to Oregon as his name appears on a BLM claim map as the holder of Oregon City Land Office Claim # 44, Not. # 2257 for 639.40 acres in Twp 13S, R4W, Willamette Meridian, sec.'s 17, 18, 19, and 20 - close to the present location of Peoria, Linn Co., Oregon. This location is within a mile or two of the claims held by James M. Coon, Jacob L. Coon, and John Miller, Jr. and Sr.

Wed. Apr 14th

Left J. Dills.

Rain.

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~orbenton/COONDIAR.htm

Have students observe image and then have them read the diary entries (small example above) and have them connect the two. The image will give them a vis-ual of what the travelers had to endure and the diary will allow them to have an exact play by play of how it was traveling west during Westward Expansion. These sources will allow them to have a better understanding of how far and hard the journey could be. The students will be asked to describe how the trip was using clues from the diaries and explaining how they came to that conclu-sion. I would also have them compare traveling then to present day traveling and explain the similarities and differences in small groups so they can hear other peers thoughts and ideas.

(CCInformationalText8- Describe how reasons support specific points the author makes in a text)