"as near as i can figure, e.j. was right"
What year was Almanzo Wilder born?

In a letter to Rose written in 1937, Laura wrote: "Manly was supposed to be 21 years old. To enter a homestead a man must be 21 or the head of a household (married). E.J. told later (she would) that he was only 18. Manly has never admitted it but as near as I can figure E.J. was right."

It always seemed funny to me that Laura wouldn't know when her own husband was born. Or did she know, and we don't? I'm not talking about book Almanzo at all, but the real one. The real one whose birthday was February 13... but what year?

The Wilder family Bible burned, so that's no help. Almanzo's birth wasn't recorded in Franklin County NY birth records, so no help there either. He's not on church records in Franklin County or in Fillmore County, Minnesota.

Looking at censuses (which aren't always correct!), even they aren't consistent as to Almanzo's age. -- In 1860, Almanzo is listed as 1 year old (as of June 1, 1860). If he was born in 1857, he would have been 3. Royal's and E.J.'s ages agree with their birth years. -- In 1870, Almanzo is listed as 11 (but both Royal and E.J. are two years off). -- On the 1875 Minnesota State census, Almanzo is listed as 14; Perley (the only other child at home) is listed as 6 (correct if born in 1869). -- On the 1875 New York state census, Almanzo is listed as 16, with no occupation and not in school. -- On the 1880 Dakota census, Almanzo is listed as 22 (Royal 32, E.J. 29). -- In 1900, Almanzo is listed as 39. -- In 1910, Almanzo is listed as 51. -- In 1920, Almanzo is listed as 61. -- In 1930, Almanzo is listed as 73. Btw, his death certificate says he was born in 1857, information given by Laura.

There's a sometimes consistent 2-year difference in Almanzo's age through the years. Not exactly scientific, but on top of Laura's apparent belief that Almanzo was too young to homestead in 1879, enough to make one wonder.

Then there are a couple of interesting items in Wilder history. In a supposed 1872 letter, James Wilder wrote that Almanzo was working out for a dollar per day. At age 13? At age 15? In an 1874 letter, James Wilder wrote that Almanzo was in school. At age 17? The 1875 census (age 14 given) does indicate that Almanzo was in school. (I probably shouldn't say that I find it hard to believe that Almanzo was still in school at age 17.)

Almanzo needed to be 21 in order to homestead. If he was actually born in 1857, there would have been no question about his age. But even before publication of By the Shores of Silver Lake (in which Almanzo is introduced again, but not his age), Laura is writing that "as near as she can figure out," Almanzo was too young to homestead. Remember too, that Almanzo filed on his claim in 1879, not 1880. An 1857 birth year makes him old enough to file; an 1859 birth year does not. I even looked at marriage, death, and divorce records in Minnesota and Dakota Territory, thinking that perhaps there was a first wife who died. If Almanzo had been married, he could have filed on a claim, no matter what his age.

Sometimes you take things on faith. Sometimes it doesn't matter. Sometimes you dig and dig and you still aren't satisfied. I'm still not satisfied.
- posted by pioneergirl at 2:40 PM