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jewel box / jewel-box

Nice place to keep a breast-pin.

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Laura’s wedding silver

Wm. Rogers’ “Crown” silverplate.

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oranges

Citrus fruit.

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J

jabot – Justice of the Peace

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Joseph Bouchie family

Fictional Brewster family in THGY.

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“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

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Christmas

Christian observation of the birth of Christ

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galumphing

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

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Thomas H. Ruth

President of Kingsbury County Bank in De Smet.

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“The High Tide”

Jean Ingelow poem.

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R

rabbit – rye

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W

wage – writ of attachment

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poultice

Applied to sores to help them heal.

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George George

1874 Minnesota traveling companion of the Ingallses

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Amos Whiting family

Superintendent of Schools, De Smet.

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S

Sabbath – sycamore

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Alice Maria Wilder

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

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button lamp

Improvised grease lamp.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – historical perspective

Walnut Grove in the 1870s.

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“Gentle Words and Loving Smiles”

Hymn 139 in Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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Home Missionary Society

Group organized to raise money to start churches and Sunday schools in the west where there were none.

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beard / whiskers

Facial hair.

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hair receiver / hair-receiver

Container to save strands of hair in.

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Horace / Homer Heath

Railroad-working brothers.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

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Laura, the Prairie Girl

1975-76 animated series.

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china shepherdess / little china woman

Ingalls family figurine.

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“The Star of Bethlehem”

When Marshalled on the Nightly Plane

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Mary Amelia Ingalls

First child of Caroline and Charles Ingalls, 1865-1928; she lost her sight at age 15.

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“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”

Long Winter song

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killdeer

Small aquatic bird.

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turntable

Revolving railroad platform.

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winnow

Drive off chaff by wind.

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Charles Mead

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

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Pre-1906 and 1912 De Smet Panoramic Photos

A view in every direction.

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the Cameron gang

fiat justitia, ruat caelum…

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Martha Perry / Mrs. White

Laura helped her sew shirts.

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lemon

The citrus fruit

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Kitty

the Ingallses’ cat in Dakota Territory

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blizzard

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

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De Smet bird’s-eye view

1883 Henry Wellge drawing of De Smet

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ostrich tips / feathers

Short bobbing feather used for hat decoration.

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Osage Indian Treaty

Legal agreement between nations or sovereigns.

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butter

Edible fatty substance made by churning cream.

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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Henry Ford’s Own Story

Industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.

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“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

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quarter section / quarter-section

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

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tattoo

Sounds like beating drums!

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“Camptown Races”

1850 Stephen Foster song.

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“Barbary Allen”

Old Scotch tune.

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beet

Succulent root vegetable.

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buckwheat pancakes

Seeds of the flowering plant Eriogonum used as a grain.

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“Ben Bolt”

1842 Thomas Dunn English song.

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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Laura Remington

Mrs. Phillip Aubrey Lawrence

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Introspections of an Individualist

Norma Lee Browning article about Rose Wilder Lane.

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Reverend Edwin H. Alden

Walnut Grove Congregational minister and missionary in Dakota.

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Sale of School Lands on the Osage Diminished Reserve

LHOP cabin was on Section 36

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Henry J. Stebbins

Railroad contractor who inspired a song.

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awl

pokes holes

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willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

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wintergreen

Aromatic, creeping evergreen, Gaultheria procumbens, having bright red berries.

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Perley Day Wilder

Almanzo’s youngest brother.

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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George Whiting Ingalls

Bugle-blowing, jigging uncle.

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“The Burial of Sir John Moore”

1817 poem by Charles Wolfe.

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“Bean Porridge Hot”

Bean porridge cold…

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America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

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galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

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Thomas Huleatt family

Neighbors of Ingalls family in Pepin Co.

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wigwam

What Almanzo’s shocked oats looked like.

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Pioneer Press

St. Paul newspaper read by Charles Ingalls in De Smet

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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bastion

A part of a main enclosure which projects toward the exterior.

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X

xanthophyll

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Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

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Hamlin Garland

…and his first Christmas tree!

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“Paddle Your Own Canoe”

1850s Harry Clifton song.

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Army bugle

Brass military horn.

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“My Old Kentucky Home”

1853 Stephen Foster song.

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equinoctial storm

Severe wind and heavy rain that occurs at or near the time of an equinox.

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bale

Specific bundle of goods packaged for transport.

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Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

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census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

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button

who’s got one?

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storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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bureau

A dresser / chest of drawers.

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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primer

Used to teach someone to read.

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Father Pierre Jean De Smet

Missionary for whom the town of De Smet was named

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breast-pin / brooch / bar pin

Ornament worn on clothing.

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cant-hook / cant-pole

Instrument used by lumbermen to move logs.

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whip

A lash tied to a handle.

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“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

1863 Louis Lambert song.

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“nervous as a witch”

restless

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axle grease

Lubricant for wagon wheels and other machinery.

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“Haste to the Wedding”

Traditional Irish fiddle tune.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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dipper / ladle / skimmer

Used to remove foam when boiling maple sap.

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Mr. Hanson

Walnut Grove land trader.

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The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

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bushel / peck

Dry quart measurements.

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calendar

What’s today’s date?

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xanthophyll

I bet you can spell this word.

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parsnip

Pastinaca edulis, a white, spindle-shaped root vegetable.

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bobolink

On Mary Power’s name card.

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bangs / lunatic fringe

hair across the forehead

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cornice

Molded roof or window projection.

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T

tableland – two-faced

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“Nobody Ask’d You”

“Where are you going, my pretty maid?”

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Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

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James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

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badger

Don’t poke it with a stick!

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“Hail Columbia”

1789 Philip Phile march.

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stone fences

Rock wall enclosure.

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mother-of-pearl

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

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fever ‘n’ ague / malaria

malaria

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organ

musical instrument

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Lizzie

the child bride

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sheep sorrel

Tastes like lemon… or springtime?

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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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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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crocheted rag rug

Crocheted floor covering made of strips of cloth.

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E

ear flap – expelled

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Albert Quiner

Laura’s cousin.

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telegraph

Don’t let Jimmie shock you with it!

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Charles Trousdale

De Smet drayman and his performing sons.

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New England States

ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, & CT.

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bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

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Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

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candle / tallow

Used to furnish light.

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dumpling

Dough cooked in liquid.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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Samuel O. Masters / William J. Masters families

Walnut Grove, Burr Oak, and De Smet family known by the Ingallses.

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Charles Ingalls: The Civil War Years

Charles Ingalls: the Civil War Years

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“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

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railroad camp / Silver Lake camp

Temporary dwellings for workers during surveying or construction.

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“All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border”

1829 Sir Walter Scott air.

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“Love’s Old Sweet Song”

1884 song by Bingham & Malloy.

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Noah’s ark toy

Willie’s toy boat with animals.

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Blanche Coday

Rose’s friend.

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Rocky Ridge Farm

The Wilders’ Missouri farm east of Mansfield

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Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

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Brownsville, Texas 1906

Did Eliza Jane sell fruit to these soldiers?

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pumpkin

The plant and fruit of Curcubita pepo

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Walnut Grove during the Little House years

Village in Redwood County, Minnesota

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tax

A certainty, as is death.

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Jesse French

Butchered oxen during the Hard Winter.

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nutmeg

Myristica moschata, used as a spice.

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velvet

Silk or blend fabric with short shag surface.

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sulky / sulky plow

One-seated conveyance.

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whalebone

Baleen used in corsets.

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“Oh! Susanna”

Stephen Foster song.

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Jacob Hopp

Printer and De Smet newspaper owner.

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Wilder feed store

Shhh. There’s wheat in the wall!

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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“Mountain of the Lord”

Hymn #52, Pure Gold for the Sunday School

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school section

Public land supporting schools.

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“The Whip-Poor-Will’s Song”

1865 Harrison Millard song.

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ice-house

Stores ice blocks in warm weather.

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Charles Barker

Early De Smet grocer.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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muff

A warm covering for receiving the hands.

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Marshall, Minnesota

Almanzo Wilder farmed here in 1879-1880.

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Big Tracy Cut

“100 feet deep & tapering off for 1/4 mile”

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Braille / New York Point

Used by Mary Ingalls.

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Charlotte Holbrook

Laura’s “Aunt Lotty”

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Protected: Alice & Arthur Whiting

Cousin Alice Ingalls Whiting’s family.

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“The Gypsy’s Warning”

1864 Henry Coard song.

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“Uncle Sam’s Farm”

1848 Jesse Hutchinson, Jr. song.

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“The New Year’s Come”

1842 “Why chime the bells so merrily?”

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President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

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Congress

Legislative body of a country.

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Jerome Bisby

Burr Oak singing teacher

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roller skates / rink

Wheeled frame for the shoe.

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Ida Belle Wright

Laura’s best friend in De Smet

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batten / lath

Thin, narrow board for fastening or joining.

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“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

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barrel

Round vessel or cask made of wooden staves.

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spider

Legged cooking vessel.

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Christopher Columbus

A native of Genoa, in Italy.

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“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

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G

gable – “Gypsy’s Warning”

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zenith

The point of the heavens directly overhead.

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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Godey’s Lady’s Book

Women’s magazine, 1830-1898.

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cameo

Aunt Docia’s pretty collar pin.

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Royal Wilder

Almanzo’s older brother.

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door knob

Grab to open a door.

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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quinine

Medicine used to treat malaria, made from cinchona bark.

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Uncle Sam

Figure symbolizing the United States.

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saleratus / soda

Leavening agents used in baking.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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Henry O. Quiner family

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

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“My Jenny Jerusha Jane”

1868 A.G. Chase song.

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