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Army bugle

Brass military horn.

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churn

Cream agitator.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

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starry papers

Hand-made shelf edging.

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geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – historical perspective

Walnut Grove in the 1870s.

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“The Whip-Poor-Will’s Song”

1865 Harrison Millard song.

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le cadeau du cheval

mosaic painting featuring Almanzo’s Morgan horses

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quinine

Medicine used to treat malaria, made from cinchona bark.

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candy hearts

Mary’s had a candy poem on it!

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“The Rock of Ages”

Painting at Rev. Brown’s.

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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Mr. Anderson / Niels Kopperud

Hard Winter wheat settler

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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Lewis Sasse

De Smet druggist

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Pittsburgh Courier

Widely-circulated black newspaper, which Rose Wilder Lane wrote a column for in the 1940s.

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carpet-bag / carpetbag

Traveling-bag

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muskrat

Their houses predict winter weather.

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cant-hook / cant-pole

Instrument used by lumbermen to move logs.

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sheep sorrel

Tastes like lemon… or springtime?

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watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

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Burke / Malone during the Little House years

Almanzo Wilder birthplace.

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wristlets

Knitted bands worn around the wrists for warmth.

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Marshall, Minnesota

Almanzo Wilder farmed here in 1879-1880.

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stone fences

Rock wall enclosure.

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Charles H. Tinkham

Early undertaker and owner of the first furniture store in De Smet.

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checkers

Game played on a board of 64 squares.

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“Don’t Leave the Farm, Boys”

Song from The Conqueror.

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poultice

Applied to sores to help them heal.

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sewing machine

“Such beautiful stitching!”

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lantern

A light meant to be carried.

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crow

Large black bird of genus Corvus.

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pork-pickle

Salt and sugar pork brine.

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Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You, My Lad

1793 Robert Burns poem.

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mother-of-pearl

Hard, silvery, brilliant, internal layer of several kinds of shells, particularly oysters.

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windlass

Device to move water or dirt from the bottom of a well to ground level.

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chapel

Place of worship.

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“Auld Lang Syne”

Now is now. It can never be a long time ago.

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Hill-Billy

1926 Rose Wilder Lane book.

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Walnut Grove during the Little House years

Village in Redwood County, Minnesota

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gopher

Four don’t go fur…

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By the Shores of Silver Lake – the fictional story

The railroad comes to Dakota.

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John Anderson

Walnut Grove store clerk & more

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Charles Ingalls: The Civil War Years

Charles Ingalls: the Civil War Years

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shoe pegs

A small, pointed piece of wood, used in fastening.

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fascinator

Pretty, light head covering.

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door knob

Grab to open a door.

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handcar

Don’t be left behind!

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“Gentle Words and Loving Smiles”

Hymn 139 in Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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axle grease

Lubricant for wagon wheels and other machinery.

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legal cap

legal document paper

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Marvin Hughitt

Officer and President of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company.

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T

tableland – two-faced

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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Little House on the Prairie – historical perspective

LHOP history

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spelling / speller

The order of letters in a word. / A book of exercises on the order of letters.

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nine-patch / Laura’s double nine-patch Irish chain quilt

Quilt block pattern.

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Caroline Ingalls

Mother of Laura Ingalls. She lived 1839-1924.

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Quiner graves

Abandoned cemetery off Playhouse Road.

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church

Place of Christian worship.

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bake oven / bake-oven

Coals on top and below.

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These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

De Smet, D.T., 1883-1885.

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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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Mr. Clancy / Chauncey Clayson

Drygoods store owner, Chauncey Clayson

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mustache

Hair above the lip.

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George George

1874 Minnesota traveling companion of the Ingallses

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“Beware!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem.

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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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Protected: private post

Go away AI; you are not welcome here.

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“Camptown Races”

1850 Stephen Foster song.

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Hamlin Garland

…and his first Christmas tree!

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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gable

Triangular end of a building under the roof.

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surveyor

One who measures land and delineates the same on paper.

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“Darling Nellie Gray”

1856 Benjamin Hamby song.

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President George Washington

First President of the U.S.A.

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ice cream social

Laura and Almanzo didn’t enjoy it.

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“Song of the Grass”

Song from Leslie and Randall’s The Conqueror, page 16.

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The Square in Malone

Where the band played.

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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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“The Floating Scow of Old Virginia”

1847 Charles White song.

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H

hack – hypocrite

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George A. Williams

Superintendent of Schools, 1883.

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“all’s well that ends well”

A proverb.

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Indian camps

Look! Beads!

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“The Star-Spangled Banner”

Our National Anthem; words by Francis Scott Key.

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George Wilmarth family

Owner of early grocery store in De Smet.

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St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

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icicle

Conical mass of ice, formed by water freezing as it flows downward.

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W

wage – writ of attachment

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Missouri Pool

Smoked a pipe & grew pretty flowers.

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Belgian horse

They’d pull a barn, if hitched to it.

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How well do you know the Little House books?

a quiz for you!

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canvas

Coarse hemp or flax cloth.

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quarter section / quarter-section

One-fourth of a square mile, consisting of 160 acres.

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basket

Woven container.

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gosh!

that wicked word

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Adam / adam’s apple

The first man, the progenitor of the human race.

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milk pan / milk-pan / milkpan

Where cream rises.

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buffalo / bison

bison

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mowing machine

Farm implement for cutting hay or grain.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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cannon

Military engine used for throwing balls and other instruments of death by the force of gunpowder.

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The Athenians

Hartville, Mo. study club.

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Delos Perry family

The Perry School was on his homestead.

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railroad camp / Silver Lake camp

Temporary dwellings for workers during surveying or construction.

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Carrie Ingalls, Homesteader

W-NW & W-SW 9-4N-20E of Black Hills Meridian

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galumphing

To move in a clumsy, ponderous, or noisy manner.

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dipper / ladle / skimmer

Used to remove foam when boiling maple sap.

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R

rabbit – rye

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storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

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wheelwright

One who makes wheels and carriages.

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“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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Perley Day Wilder

Almanzo’s youngest brother.

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Wilder feed store

Shhh. There’s wheat in the wall!

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stanchion

Support frame.

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“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

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carding-machine

Straightens fibers by combing.

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“Uncle Ned”

One of the earliest Stephen Foster songs.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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Orion E. Stearns

Caught by blizzard of ’88.

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“The Treadmill Song”

Oliver Wendell Holmes poem set to music.

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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De Smet during the Little House years

The Ingalls family moved here in 1879.

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“The Sleighing Glee”

Singing school song.

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Spin-offs and Adaptations of the Little House Books

Not by LIW, but kindred publications.

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Maude Blair

Walnut Grove friend of Laura’s

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turntable

Revolving railroad platform.

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Hattie Dorchester

Jake Zickrick’s skating partner.

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“The Pied Piper”

Robert Browning poem.

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“Love’s Old Sweet Song”

1884 song by Bingham & Malloy.

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Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

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copper

Cu

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Edward H. Couse

Early hardware store owner in De Smet.

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pokeberry

For rosy doll cheeks.

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ground-cherry

Variety of husk tomato.

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Ingalls office / store in De Smet

NW and SE corners of Calumet and Second.

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“Pop! Goes the Weasel”

Traditional American song.

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Peter Riley Ingalls family

Uncle Peter & Aunt Eliza.

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flag, the flower

An aquatic flower, Iris versicolor.

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Old Military Tract

Franklin Co. NY map reference

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mummy

Put. that. back.

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xanthophyll

I bet you can spell this word.

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cat’s cradle

Game played with string twisted on the fingers.

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velocipede

Carriage propelled by pedals or feet.

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Alice & Arthur Whiting

Cousin Alice Ingalls Whiting’s family.

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C

cabbage – cyclone

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“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

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Ella & Robert Boast

Friends of the Ingalls family in De Smet.

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Come Into the Garden, Maud

1855 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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Henry O. Quiner family

Ma’s brother, married to Pa’s sister Polly.

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zebra

Part of Willie Oleson’s Noah’s Ark toy.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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Lansford James Ingalls family

Pa’s brother and Laura’s uncle.

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Supposed Speech of Regulus

From Independent Fifth Reader.

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“The Battle-Cry of Freedom”

We’ll Rally Round the Flag, Boys!

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James Kennedy family

Walnut Grove farming family, originally from Canada.

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Julia & Amasa Tower

Walnut Grove church friends.

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Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

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Thanksgiving

Public celebration of divine goodness.

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oranges

Citrus fruit.

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water alcove

Railroad car water for drinking.

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U

udder – upland

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“Ta-ra-ra-Boom-de-Ay”

1891 Henry J. Sayers song.

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candle / tallow

Used to furnish light.

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“Dakota Land”

1876 hymn, Beulah Land.

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Noah’s ark toy

Willie’s toy boat with animals.

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Royal Wilder

Almanzo’s older brother.

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button lamp

Improvised grease lamp.

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post office / post-office

Where you send and receive mail.

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apple pie / dried apple pie

Just like Ma used to make.

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John Ensign family

Quit crying, Howard.

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blacking / stove-blacking / boot blacking

Preparation used to make things black.

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poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

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“Jesus Holds My Hand”

Hymn #85, Pure Gold for the Sunday Schools

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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Henry J. Stebbins

Railroad contractor who inspired a song.

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elevator

Warehouse for seed and grain.

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Henry Hinz

Owner of first saloon in De Smet and boarder at the Ingallses’.

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“Haste to the Wedding”

Traditional Irish fiddle tune.

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Governor of Orleans / The American Remount Association

Registered stallion leased to Almanzo Wilder 1923-1925.

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“All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border”

1829 Sir Walter Scott air.

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Kitty

the Ingallses’ cat in Dakota Territory

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what-not / whatnot

An étagère for books & ornaments.

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prairie danglers

seventhwinter whimsey’s glass slide pendants!

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Timothy Johnson family

De Smet Wagon Shop.

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Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

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poor man’s fertilizer

Snow plowed into a field.

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orthography

The art of spelling words correctly.

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Pre-1906 and 1912 De Smet Panoramic Photos

A view in every direction.

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yoke

Frame worn on the neck for lifting or drawing.

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“Hail Columbia”

1789 Philip Phile march.

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Timber Culture Act / tree claim

Passed by Congress, March 3, 1873.

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auk

Extinct sea bird used to describe dovekie found by Charles Ingalls.

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“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land”

1860 Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

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Old English letters

Variety of printing type.

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yeast / yeast cakes

Bread-leavening organism.

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wonderful house / frame house

Wooden house built on Charles Ingalls’ Plum Creek preemption claim.

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