The Real Laura Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie
My Girl Hero Laura Ingalls Wilder is one of my favorite writers, not just because her stories are so interesting to read but because many of the events she describes really happened to her.
Laura Ingalls was born on February 7, 1867 just outside of the little village of Pepin, Wisconsin. She was the second oldest of her parent's four surviving children, all of which were girls.
Laura's parents were pioneers heading west, just one of thousands of families encouraged by the US government to set up homesteads on lands that had belonged to Native American tribes.
So, through most of her childhood, her family moved A LOT.
Beginning in Wisconsin,
they moved to Missouri,
then Kansas,
then back to Wisconsin,
then Minnesota,
then Iowa,
then back to Minnesota,
then to the Dakota Territories
Then they finally settled down in South Dakota. (show lines on map on iphone?)
Phew!
You practically need an app to keep up.
When she was 18, Laura Ingalls married Almanzo Wilder. When they first settled down, the future looked promising but her life grew hard. Almanzo became ill, family deaths and terrible fires took their toll and the young family's finances began to fail.
So once again in Laura's life, she went on the move. Laura, Almanzo and their daughter, Rose, finally settled in Mansfield, Missouri and this is where her writing career began.
Laura worked as a writer and editor for a local newspaper and developed a loyal readership who enjoyed her stories of home and family life, travel adventures and the expanding options for women of the times. At the same time, Rose, now grown-up and travelling the world had become a well known writer on her own.
Rose encouraged her mother to expand on the stories she had already begun work on based on her pioneer childhood but it wasn't until the legendary stock market crash in 1929 that publishing the stories became urgent.
You see, Laura and her husband lost most of their money at the beginning of the Great Depression. Millions of people were out of work, farms were drying up and times were bad for everyone. With Rose's experience in publishing, Laura was able to quickly improve her stories and find a publisher.
And I am am so glad she did. I love the Little House books and so do millions of others around the world.
Ever since the her first book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932, Laura's books have never stopped being printed and have been translated into 40 languages.
Laura Ingalls Wilder lived to the grand old age of 90 but she will forever live on in my imagination as little Laura Ingalls.
Thank you, Laura!
Image and Sound Attributions
Rocky Ridge Farm, Mansfield, Missouri By TimothyMN - CC BY-SA 3.0,
Gravesite of Laura Ingalls Wilder and husband Almanzo Wilder at Mansfield Cemetery, Mansfield, Missouri. Buried next to them is daughter Rose Wilder Lane. By Julie Jordan Scott - CC BY 2.0,
Map of the United States of America 1845 courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center used under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
Little House Wayside - Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Aaron Carlson used under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
State of Wisconsin 1886 courtesy of Norman B. Leventhal Map Center used under Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
iPhone by World Super Cars at English Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Little House on the prarie book image by m01229 used under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Entrance to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota image By Scott Catron (English Wikipedia [1]) [GFDL ( or CC-BY-SA-3.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Rag Dolls used under CC0-Public Domain (
Corn Husk Doll By John Morgan (Flickr: Palm Doll) [CC BY 2.0 ( via Wikimedia Commons
Pioneer Girl, Helping Mom, Oak Glen, Ca 5-2008 by Don Graham used under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Rocket sound by Cydon used under the Creative Commons License
Tardis By Edjoerv (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Wayside Cabin Pepin, WI Sept. 2009
This was taken at the Wayside Cabin, a replica of Laura Ingalls Wilder's birthplace, seven miles outside of Pepin Wisconsin during Laura Ingalls Wilder Days in 2009.
Pepin WI
The village of Pepin is in western Wisconsin on a wide part of the Mississippi River known as Lake Pepin. The playground in Pepin is named after the author Laura Ingalls Wilder, who was born near Pepin.
Who Is Laura Ingalls Wilder?
Laura Ingalls Wilder (/ˈɪŋɡəlz/; February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was an American writer, most notably the author of the Little House series of children's novels based on her childhood in a pioneer family. Her daughter, Rose, encouraged her to write and helped her to edit and publish the novels.
A popular 1974–84 TV series, Little House on the Prairie, was loosely based on the Little House books, starring Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls and Melissa Gilbert as Laura, his daughter.
Laura was born on February 7, 1867, seven miles north of the village of Pepin in the Big Woods region of Wisconsin, to Charles Phillip Ingalls and Caroline Lake (Quiner) Ingalls. She was the second of five children, following Mary Amelia, who went blind in her teens.[a] Their three younger siblings were Caroline Celestia, Charles Frederick (who died in infancy), and Grace Pearl. Her birth site is commemorated by a replica log cabin, the Little House Wayside. Life there formed the basis for her first book, Little House in the Big Woods.
Laura was a descendant of the Delano family, relatives of the 32nd president of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose progenitor emigrated on the Mayflower in 1620, and of Edmund Rice, who emigrated in 1638 to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. One paternal ancestor, Edmund Ingalls, was born on June 27, 1586, in Skirbeck, Lincolnshire, England, and emigrated to America, where he died in Lynn, Massachusetts, on September 16, 1648
Family on the move
The Ingalls family moved from the Big Woods of Wisconsin in the year 1869, before Laura was two years old. They stopped in Rothville, Missouri, and settled in Kansas, in Indian Country near what is now Independence. Her younger sister Carrie (1870–1946) was born there in August 1870, soon before they moved again. According to her, Charles had been told that the location would soon be open to white settlers but that was incorrect; their homestead was actually on the Osage Indian reservation and they had no legal right to occupy it. They had only just begun to farm when they were informed of their error, and they departed in 1871. Several neighbors stayed and fought eviction.
From Kansas they returned to Wisconsin where they lived for the next four years. Those experiences formed the basis for Little House on the Prairie and Little House in the Big Woods, although the fictional chronology does not match the fact: Laura was about one to three years old in Kansas and four to seven in Wisconsin; in the novels she is four to five in Wisconsin (Big Woods) and six to seven in Kansas (Prairie). According to a letter from Rose to biographer William Anderson, the publisher had her change her age in Prairie because it seemed unrealistic for a three-year-old to have memories so specific as her story of life in Kansas. To be consistent with her already established chronology, she made herself six to seven years old in Prairie and seven to nine years old in On the Banks of Plum Creek, the third volume of her fictionalized history, which takes place around 1874.
On the Banks of Plum Creek shows them moving from Kansas to an area near Walnut Grove, Minnesota, and settling in a dugout on the banks of Plum Creek. They really lived there beginning in 1874 when Laura was about seven. That year Charles' restless spirit led them to Lake City, Minnesota, and then on to a preemption claim in Walnut Grove, where they lived for a time with relatives near South Troy, Minnesota. Laura's little brother, Freddie, was born there on November 1, 1875; he died only nine months later on August 27, 1876. They next moved to Burr Oak, Iowa, where they helped run a hotel. Laura's youngest sibling, Grace, was born there on May 23, 1877.
They moved from Burr Oak back to Walnut Grove, where Charles served as the town butcher and justice of the peace. He accepted a railroad job in the spring of 1879, which took him to eastern Dakota Territory where they joined him that fall. Laura did not write about 1876–1877 when they lived near Burr Oak, but skipped directly to Dakota Territory, portrayed in By the Shores of Silver Lake. Thus the fictional timeline caught up with her real life.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days-Pepin Wisconsin (USA)
Wisconsin Farm & Pepin, birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder
visiting a farm breakfast and Pepin, WI
Laura Days in Pepin, WI 2013 Sept. 13-15, 2013 Day 1, Part 2
The second part of my journey to Pepin, Wisconsin for their Laura Ingalls Wilder Days aka Laura Days. I arrive, check in, visit the Latane Tinsmith Shop, the marina, Sail Pepin and the Birthplace Cabin.
Laura Days in Pepin, WI 2013 Sept. 13-15, 2013 Day 1
Day 1 of my trip to Laura Ingalls Wilder Days aka Laura Days in Pepin, Wisconsin. Along the way I stop at Decorah, Iowa for lunch, What's New Antique Shop and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Park and Museum in Burr Oak, Iowa.
Little House BIG Woods
A charming house on 4 acres of dry land. Close to countless opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Wildlife rich state and county land nearby and over 20 lakes within 5 miles distance. Low taxes, quiet location in North Central Minnesota. Welcome Home!
Offered by Heartland Real Estate:
Or contact franks.that.be@gmail.com if interested
Laura Days in Pepin, WI 2013 Sept. 13-15, 2013 Day 2, Part 1
Created on September 14, 2013 using FlipShare.
The Real Little House on the Prairie
Laura Ingalls Wilder's childhood homesite in Indian Territory -- Wayside, Kansas, near Independence. This is the site of her book Little House on the Prairie. This video is part of the Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frontier Girl collection located at
Drive to Pepin Wisconsin.
Drive along moor of Mississippi River.
Close to Pepin Wisconsin
HH LIWD Revised
For Laura Ingalls Wilder, the tall trees of Pepin, Wisconsin were her first memories and were recorded within the pages of the Little House series of books. The popularity of the books also prompted a television series, Little House on the Prairie.
On July 27-28 at Heritage Hill State Historical Park, Laura Ingalls Wilder's classic Little House books will come to life. Activities from Laura's books include: chores on the farm, historical games, and a school lesson. Demonstrations include: bullet making, blacksmithing and historical meal preparation.
Boys and girls are invited to dress as their favorite Little House character and join us at noon for the Children's Fashion Promenade, fiddle music and costume contest.
Making a guest appearance this year is Alison Arngrim who portrayed Nellie on the Little House on the Prairie television series. Returning to Heritage Hill is author and historian, William Anderson. He has spent many years researching and writing about the people and places of the Little House books. Nellie' will be presenting on life on Little House on the Prairie and William Anderson on the Ingalls family. These presentations begin are at 10:15am and 11:15am each morning.
Nellie and William Anderson will be available for autographs from 1:00pm-3:00pm daily. Autograph items will be limited to photos and published works available for purchase in the Heritage Hill Gift Shop and General Store.
Please check our website heritagehillgb.org for updates on all activities.
Laura Ingalls Wilder Days will be celebrated at Heritage Hill July 27-28 from 10:00am-4:30pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors (over 62) and $8 for children 4-17(children 3 and under free). A Heritage Hill Membership provides for FREE Admission during all the days.
The park is located at 2640 S. Webster Ave. in Green Bay. For more information about Laura Ingalls Wilder Days or general park news call 920-448-5150 or visit heritagehillgb.org.
Laura Ingalls Wilder LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Bio | Almanzo Wilder | Rose Wilder Lane
A popular 1970s tv series, starring Melissa Gilbert as Laura and Michael Landon as her father Charles Ingalls, was inspired by the Little House novels from American author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Most notable as the creator of the Little House on the Prairie books, based on her childhood in a frontier settler family, TIMELINE explores her life and visits the many interesting places where Laura and her family lived, and marks each location on a simple map that is easy to comprehend and fun to replicate for school projects. Join Laura, her husband Almanzo, and their daughter Rose Wilder Lane in Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota (Walnut Grove), Iowa, South Dakota and Florida. Enjoy this Edition of TIMELINE, as we present «Laura Ingalls Wilder’s LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE».
Laura Ingalls Wilder's LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE | Almanzo Wilder | Rose Wilder Lane
Laura Ingalls Wilder LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE | Melissa Gilbert Michael Landon
Laura Ingalls Wilder LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE Bio | Almanzo Wilder | Rose Wilder Lane
Laura Ingalls Wilder Biography
La Petite Maison dans la Prairie
Iowa
Visitors live prairie life during Laura Ingalls Wilder Days at Heritage Hill
Heritage Hill hosts Laura Ingalls Wilder Days on July 26-27 featuring fun activities for kids and special guests.