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copyright / permissions

Please do not plagiarize.

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Silas Rood

Rude by name & nature?

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railroad cut / fill

How you level a railroad grade.

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claim jumper / Mr. Hunter / Jack Hunt

One who ousts another from their land.

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stanchion

Support frame.

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anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

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“Oft in the Stilly Night”

Song from Lalla Rookh.

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saleratus / soda

Leavening agents used in baking.

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turnip

Cruciferous plant grown for root and greens.

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poll

No horns.

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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clear, pure green sky

Sunlight separated into colored bands at sunset.

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Becky Newhall / Rebecca Stewart

Classmate of Laura Ingalls in De Smet.

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“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

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pen / pen-wiper

An instrument used for writing. / Material used to clean it after writing.

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dumpling

Dough cooked in liquid.

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willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

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Great American Desert

Varying area of North America, believed at times to be uninhabitable by civilized man.

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hogshead

100-140 gallon cask.

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“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

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Introspections of an Individualist

Norma Lee Browning article about Rose Wilder Lane.

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“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

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velocipede

Carriage propelled by pedals or feet.

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America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

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zenith

The point of the heavens directly overhead.

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bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

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“Money Musk”

Traditional American dance tune.

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William O’Connell

Fictional Bill O’Dowd.

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consumption

A wasting disease, pulmonary tuberculosis.

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yeast / yeast cakes

Bread-leavening organism.

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birds in their little nests agree

Miss Wilder knew nothing about birds.

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Oscar Rhuel / Röhl

A romantic figure…

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“Marching Through Georgia”

Union song from American Civil War.

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auk

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

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dug out / dugout

Dwelling built into the earth.

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literary society

Instructional and entertaining gathering.

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Hill-Billy

1926 Rose Wilder Lane book.

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Alice Maria Wilder

Older sister and playmate of Almanzo Wilder. She lived 1853-1892.

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“Ta-ra-ra-Boom-de-Ay”

1891 Henry J. Sayers song.

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Thomas Quiner

Ma’s brother and Laura’s uncle

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Timothy Johnson family

De Smet Wagon Shop.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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“Highland Mary”

1799 Robert Burns songs, favorite of Mary Ingalls.

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scones

“Mamabess is growing fat.”

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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custard / ice-cream

Sweetened milk and eggs, cooked.

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cat’s cradle

Game played with string twisted on the fingers.

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cabin / log house

A small cottage; a hut or small house.

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claim shanty

Temporary dwelling.

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galumphing

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

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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Alfred Thomas

He was MARRIED, people!!

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chilblain

Cold sores on hands and feet.

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census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

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“The Girl I Left Behind Me”

17th century Irish tune.

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hardtack

Unleavened hard bread made from flour and water.

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Morocco leather

Fine goat leather.

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Florence Bell

Milliner and dressmaker in De Smet.

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huckleberry

Let’s have some pie!

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shoe pegs

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

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New Ulm, Minnesota

Town in Brown Co., MN.

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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tattoo

Sounds like beating drums!

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“Life Let Us Cherish”

1796 Swiss song translated to English.

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“The May Queen”

Poem in three parts by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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James Kennedy family

Walnut Grove farming family, originally from Canada.

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fichu

Light pointed cape worn by ladies, usually made of lace.

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“Bo-peep has lost her sheep”

Game of hiding and surprise to amuse a small child.

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milking-stool

Three legs (the cow has the udder).

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velvet

Silk or blend fabric with short shag surface.

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starch

cloth stiffener

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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literature

Knowledge and fancy preserved in writing.

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“Jesus Holds My Hand”

Hymn #85, Pure Gold for the Sunday Schools

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Laura’s Sorosis Club speech

“My Work”

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Hotel keeper’s family struck by lightning

E.P. LeSuer of Canby, Minnesota.

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“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

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Santa Claus / Santa Clause

Ho. Ho. Ho.

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wigwam

What Almanzo’s shocked oats looked like.

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David Thorp

Walnut Grove teacher 1877-78.

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“Auld Lang Syne”

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

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Thomas Huleatt family

Neighbors of Ingalls family in Pepin Co.

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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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“The Sleighing Glee”

Singing school song.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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nubia

A light scarf worn about the head and neck.

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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whip

A lash tied to a handle.

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jewel box / jewel-box

Nice place to keep a breast-pin.

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“Sing a Song of Sixpence”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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acre

4840 square yards of land.

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tiger lily

Native spotted flower of tallgrass prairie.

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brakeman

Person who stops the train.

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bushel / peck

Dry quart measurements.

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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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claim

The land to which one has a right.

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Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

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stockade

Enclosure of posts or sticks.

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snow-fort

“Holler ’nuff!”

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certificate

Written testimony of fact.

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“The Tides” / The moon is at its full

1860 William Cullen Bryant poem.

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De Smet bird’s-eye view

1883 Henry Wellge drawing of De Smet

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“Kitty Wells”

1858 Sloan & Atherton song.

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The Advance

Weekly family newspaper of the Congregational church.

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Edelbert Harthorn family / Frank Harthorn & Mabel Burd

Father and son owners of early drygoods store in De Smet.

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“The Gum-Tree Canoe”

1847 Steele & Winnemore song.

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St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

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Old Military Tract

Franklin Co. NY map reference

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Henry Ford’s Own Story

Industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.

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James McKee family

Early homesteader north of Manchester D.T. Laura Ingalls stayed with them during the spring of 1883.

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bison / “The Bison Track”

Bayard Taylor poem about Bos Americanus, found in Independent Fifth Reader.

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“Give us this day our daily bread”

“The City, a Mc Kee plain glassware pattern.

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Daniel Loftus

Early drygoods store owner in De Smet.

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“The Pied Piper”

Robert Browning poem.

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cottonwood tree

Wetland plains tree, Populus fremontii.

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“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

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carding-machine

Straightens fibers by combing.

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fascinator

Pretty, light head covering.

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Kingsbury County, D.T.

County in eastern South Dakota, organized in 1879.

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lantern

A light meant to be carried.

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“The Evergreen Shore”

1861 William Hunter song.

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ground-cherry

Variety of husk tomato.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

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Doxology

Old Hundred.

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mother-of-pearl

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

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“Oh Boys, Carry Me Along”

Stephen Foster song.

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Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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starry papers

Hand-made shelf edging.

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pasteboard / lambrequin

Paperboard used as base for decorative edging.

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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links

Helps you find what you’re looking for.

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breast-pin / brooch

Ornament worn on clothing.

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“Little Annie Rooney”

1889 song by Michael Nolan.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

1863 Louis Lambert song.

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

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blueing bag

Whiter whites.

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Lizzie

the child bride

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“The New Year’s Come”

1842 “Why chime the bells so merrily?”

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Charles Trousdale

De Smet drayman and his performing sons.

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“To a Girl”

Poem used to describe Beatrice Sorchan.

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William H. Steadman family

Proprietor of hotel in Burr Oak.

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popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

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Bibliography

LIW / RWL books & articles

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Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

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mustache

Hair above the lip.

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Maude Blair

Walnut Grove friend of Laura’s

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Jim River / James River

A tributary of the Missouri River.

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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

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ambition

Act of obtaining an object of desire.

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“Darling Nellie Gray”

1856 Benjamin Hamby song.

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“Old Grimes”

1822 Albert Gorton Greene poem.

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“Gaily Now Our Boat is Sailing”

Laura loved singing school. It began with singing scales to...

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Thomas Power family

De Smet tailor.

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Stories of the Moorland

1869 book by Lizzie Bates about a young boy growing up in Scotland.

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sheep sorrel

Tastes like lemon… or springtime?

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“Keep the Horse Shoe Over the Door”

1880 Joseph Skelley song.

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the children’s blizzard

January 12, 1888, blizzard.

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Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

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These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

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

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china shepherdess / little china woman

Ingalls precious family figurine.

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“For the Sake o’ Somebody”

1794 Robert Burns poem.

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The House that Jack Built

…for two pieces of money.

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“Tubal Cain”

Charles McKay poem.

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locust

Buy this book.

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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crocheted rag rug

Crocheted floor covering made of strips of cloth.

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“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

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morning-glory

Climbing plant of the genus Ipomœa.

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blizzard

In 1880-1881, a long, severe, blinding, and bitterly cold snowstorm.

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Little House in the Big Woods – the fictional story

Once upon a time, 60 years ago…

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Old Settler’s Day

De Smet annual reunion.

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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Charles Mead

Proprietor of the Exchange Hotel in De Smet, 1880-1882.

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zebra

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

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missionary barrel

Collection of items distributed to the needy.

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churn

Cream agitator.

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patent / title

official property ownership document

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Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

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tomahawk

War hatchet used by American Indians.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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Supposed Speech of Regulus

From Independent Fifth Reader.

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Big Green Animal Book

George Hartwig’s The Polar and Tropical Worlds: A Description of Man and Nature.

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Grace Pearl Ingalls

Youngest sister of Laura Ingalls; she lived 1877-1941.

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antelope

Antilocapra cervicapra of North America.

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Will Barnes

Walnut Grove acquaintance of the Ingallses’ in the 1870s....

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Delos Perry family

The Perry School was on his homestead.

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Charles Ely

Early lumber man in De Smet.

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birds’-nest pudding

Dessert made of apples baked in syrup and served with cream.

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The Youth’s Companion

Weekly instructional magazine for children, first published in 1827.

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Western Reserve

Land in Ohio, given to Connecticut upon agreement to give up claim to lands in Pennsylvania.

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turntable

Revolving railroad platform.

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Eleck Nelson family

Neighbors of the Ingalls family when living on their preemption claim north of Walnut Grove.

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handcar

Don’t be left behind!

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

Quilt block pattern.

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