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copyright / permissions

Please do not plagiarize.

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sheep sorrel

Tastes like lemon… or springtime?

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swimming hole

Watch out for ankle grabbers!

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blizzard

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

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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lief

Gladly; willingly; freely.

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Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

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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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wheelwright

One who makes wheels and carriages.

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building paper / tar paper

Crude building paper used for covering.

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depot / station

Railway station.

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“The Girl I Left Behind Me”

17th century Irish tune.

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dove-in-the-window / bear’s tracks

Patchwork pattern variations.

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“Jerusalem the Golden”

Hymn from Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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Johnny Johnson

“Wake up and watch the cattle!”

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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nutmeg

Myristica moschata, used as a spice.

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powder horn / powder-horn

Animal horn in which gunpowder is carried.

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“Oh Boys, Carry Me Along”

Stephen Foster song.

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candy hearts

Mary’s had a candy poem on it!

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Timothy Johnson family

De Smet Wagon Shop.

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squirrel

Rodent mammal of the genus Sciurus.

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By the Shores of Silver Lake – historical perspective

Dakota Central comes to De Smet.

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“The Rock of Ages”

Painting at Rev. Brown’s.

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By the Shores of Silver Lake – the fictional story

The railroad comes to Dakota.

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These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

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

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checkers

Game played on a board of 64 squares.

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“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

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Belgian horse

A heavy draft horse originally from the Brabant region of...

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Ross family

Neighbors in the Perry District.

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galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

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Minnie Johnson

Laura’s schoolmate in De Smet

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“There is a Happy Land”

Whoop! How those eggs do smell!

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“Rock Me to Sleep”

Elizabeth Allen poem.

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what-not / whatnot

An étagère for books & ornaments.

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Spat them Out

Clapping (and kissing) game.

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“Bo-peep has lost her sheep”

Game of hiding and surprise to amuse a small child.

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“Dakota Land”

1876 hymn, Beulah Land.

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carved wooden bracket

Place for a china shepherdess.

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Reverend Edwin H. Alden

Walnut Grove Congregational minister and missionary in Dakota.

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls during the Little House years

Ingallses lived here with Uncle Peter.

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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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cottonwood tree

Wetland plains tree, Populus fremontii.

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Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

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emigrant car

Railroad car used to move a settler and/or a settler’s goods.

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oyster

A mollusk of the genus Ostrea, having a bivalve shell.

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Ingalls office / store in De Smet

NW and SE corners of Calumet and Second.

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Roman candle

Flaming stars and balls firework.

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vanity cakes

Egg and flour batter fried in oil into golden brown puffs.

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Tennyson’s Poems

Collection of works by Written by Alfred, Lord Tennyson,...

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Florence Bell

Milliner and dressmaker in De Smet.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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David Thorp

Walnut Grove teacher 1877-78.

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barrel

Round vessel or cask made of wooden staves.

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awl

pokes holes

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“Highland Mary”

1799 Robert Burns songs, favorite of Mary Ingalls.

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Have you seen the comet?

Tebbutt’s Great Comet of 1881.

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Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Laura’s handwritten manuscript.

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quarter section / quarter-section

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

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Women’s Christian Temperance Union

W.C.T.U.

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chestnut / horse chestnut

A large nut, the fruit of a species of Æsculus.

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Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

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Yankton, Dakota Territory

1879 land office town.

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Young Pioneers

David and Molly Beaton.

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The Missouri Ruralist

Twice monthly Missouri farm periodical.

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New Ulm, Minnesota

Town in Brown Co., MN.

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literary society

Instructional and entertaining gathering.

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udder

Where the milk is before milking.

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James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

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twine

A strong twisted thread.

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spinning wheel / spinning-wheel

Turns wool into yarn.

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“Gentle Words and Loving Smiles”

Hymn 139 in Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

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bandana

Large handkerchief with white pattern on red or blue background.

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dried-raspberry sauce

Dried sauce good on biscuits.

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popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

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Dr. Alfred Starr

His wife wanted Laura.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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breast-pin / brooch

Ornament worn on clothing.

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dipper / ladle / skimmer

Used to remove foam when boiling maple sap.

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bastion

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

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roller skates / rink

Wheeled frame for the shoe.

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bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

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hardtack

Unleavened hard bread made from flour and water.

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Uncle Sam

Figure symbolizing the United States.

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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Adam / adam’s apple

The first man, the progenitor of the human race.

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“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

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Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

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“Daisy Deane”

1863 song by Union soldiers.

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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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“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

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morning-glory

Climbing plant of the genus Ipomœa.

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Farmer Boy – the fictional story

Almanzo Wilder’s childhood in Burke NY.

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“America”

1832 Reverend Samuel F. Smith song.

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blacking / stove-blacking / boot blacking

Preparation used to make things black.

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Thomas Quiner

Ma’s brother and Laura’s uncle

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tea

A man’s drink in cold weather.

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Christopher Columbus

A native of Genoa, in Italy.

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William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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blueing bag

Whiter whites.

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windrow

Line of hay raked together.

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“The Battle-Cry of Freedom”

We’ll Rally Round the Flag, Boys!

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writ of attachment

Legal document requiring action.

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Little House in the Big Woods – the fictional story

Once upon a time, 60 years ago…

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Pa’s red & white checked mittens

Fair Isle pattern.

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“The Blue Juniata”

1841 Marion Dix Sullivan song.

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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churn

Cream agitator.

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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wall-paper

Wall covering.

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“all’s well that ends well”

A proverb.

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“Song of the Grass”

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

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Albert Quiner

Laura’s cousin.

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muskrat

Their houses predict winter weather.

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bacon

Hog’s flesh salted or pickled and dried, usually in smoke.

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John H. Carroll

Early De Smet banker.

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George C. Bradley

Early De Smet druggist.

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nubia

A light scarf worn about the head and neck.

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railroad cut / fill

How you level a railroad grade.

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Waverly Novels

Sir Walter Scott books.

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galumphing

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

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ante-over / anti-over / anteover

Game in which a ball is thrown over a structure.

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herd

A number of large beasts assembled together.

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auk

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

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“Give us this day our daily bread”

“The City, a Mc Kee plain glassware pattern.

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greenhorn / greeny

Immature, raw, awkward.

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mummy

Put. that. back.

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Hotel keeper’s family struck by lightning

E.P. LeSuer of Canby, Minnesota.

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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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“Coming Through the Rye”

Robert Burns tune.

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gosh!

that wicked word

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pasteboard / lambrequin

Paperboard used as base for decorative edging.

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Ernest & Minnie Green

This is not Mary & Edwin Sanford!

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Hattie Dorchester

Jake Zickrick’s skating partner.

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Thomas H. Ruth

President of Kingsbury County Bank in De Smet.

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Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

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“Old Grimes”

1822 Albert Gorton Greene poem.

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whip

A lash tied to a handle.

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pork-pickle

Salt and sugar pork brine.

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snow-fort

“Holler ’nuff!”

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cabin / log house

A small cottage; a hut or small house.

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Farmer Boy – historical perspective

1860s Burke / Malone NY.

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stanchion

Support frame.

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“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

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Thomas Power family

De Smet tailor.

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“Golden Years are Passing By”

1879 Will Thompson song.

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“The Good Old Way”

Hymn 18, Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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Noah’s ark toy

Willie’s toy boat with animals.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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Laura’s wedding silver

Wm. Rogers’ “Crown” silverplate.

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freeze drying

sublimation!

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patent / title

official property ownership document

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gopher

Four don’t go fur…

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The House that Jack Built

…for two pieces of money.

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“The Pied Piper”

Robert Browning poem.

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“The Campbells are Coming”

Traditional Scottish jig.

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Margaret Garland family / Cap Garland

Family living behind the Ingallses in De Smet.

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needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

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composition

The act of forming a written piece.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Hymnal owned by the Ingalls family.

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le cadeau du cheval

2008 horse mural composed of smaller paintings of horses,...

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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tomahawk

War hatchet used by American Indians.

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zebra

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

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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bangs / lunatic fringe

hair across the forehead

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St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

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biscuits

A kind of un-fermented bread, formed into flat cakes, and baked.

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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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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Indian camps

Look! Beads!

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bison / “The Bison Track”

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

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oranges

Citrus fruit.

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Jacob Hopp

Printer and De Smet newspaper owner.

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“Billy Boy”

English folk song.

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Wilkin School

April 20 – July 10, 1885.

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handcar

Don’t be left behind!

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Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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batten / lath

Thin, narrow board for fastening or joining.

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basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

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Alice Maria Wilder

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

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“Oft in the Stilly Night”

Song from Lalla Rookh.

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“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

1863 Louis Lambert song.

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The Modern Musketeer

How Rose became a great actress.

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Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

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Caroline Ingalls

Mother of Laura Ingalls. She lived 1839-1924.

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Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

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“The Burial of Sir John Moore”

1817 poem by Charles Wolfe.

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the children’s blizzard

January 12, 1888, blizzard.

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John James Ingalls

Senator from Kansas.

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mustache

Hair above the lip.

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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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Daniel Loftus

Early drygoods store owner in De Smet.

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Laura’s Bible references

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s hand-written list of Bible verses to be read in times of trouble or stress.

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geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

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