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black bird / blackbird

Name given to various American birds.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

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Alfred Ely

One of the younger boys in school.

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Lizzie

the child bride

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bushel / peck

Dry quart measurements.

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Hattie Dorchester

Jake Zickrick’s skating partner.

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“The Lotos Eaters”

Tennyson poem.

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lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

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wheelwright

One who makes wheels and carriages.

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bake oven / bake-oven

Coals on top and below.

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“A Shelter in the Time of Storm”

Ira Sankey hymn.

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hardtack

Unleavened hard bread made from flour and water.

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“Oh Boys, Carry Me Along”

Stephen Foster song.

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Martha Perry / Mrs. White

Laura helped her sew shirts.

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“The Polish Boy”

Poem by Ann S. Stephens

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spinning wheel / spinning-wheel

Turns wool into yarn.

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Roman candle

Flaming stars and balls firework.

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sheep sorrel

Tastes like lemon… or springtime?

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Mary Power & Edwin Sanford

Laura’s friend and the new clerk at Ruth’s bank.

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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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buffalo beans

Prairie ground plum.

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icicle

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

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“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

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“Old Dan Tucker”

Mr. Edwards sings it!

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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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peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

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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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Hamlin Garland

…and his first Christmas tree!

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harvest moon

Full moon nearest autumnal equinox

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Carrie Ingalls

Younger sister of Laura Ingalls; she lived 1870-1946.

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Spat them Out

Clapping (and kissing) game.

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tea

A man’s drink in cold weather.

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Come Into the Garden, Maud

1855 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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braid / plait

Entwined strands.

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door knob

Grab to open a door.

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consumption

A wasting disease, pulmonary tuberculosis.

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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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Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls

Heather Williams book.

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“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

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Quiner graves

Abandoned cemetery off Playhouse Road.

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antelope

Antilocapra cervicapra of North America.

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“The Good Old Way”

Hymn 18, Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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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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By the Shores of Silver Lake – historical perspective

Dakota Central comes to De Smet.

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“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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barrel

Round vessel or cask made of wooden staves.

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carding-machine

Straightens fibers by combing.

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“Money Musk”

Traditional American dance tune.

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nutmeg

Myristica moschata, used as a spice.

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Mary & Samuel Ray / Ellen & Amos Leonard

Sisters feuding over a lovely homeplace…and a man.

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spoon holder / spoon-holder / spoonholder

Any vessel used to hold and display spoons.

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Chicago Inter-Ocean / Inter-Ocean

Republican political newspaper.

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The Missouri Ruralist

Twice monthly Missouri farm periodical.

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Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

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quinine

Medicine used to treat malaria, made from cinchona bark.

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carved wooden bracket

Place for a china shepherdess.

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muff

A warm covering for receiving the hands.

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dug out / dugout

Dwelling built into the earth.

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Reverend Edward Brown

Minister of the First Congregational Church of De Smet, 1880-1884.

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ostrich tips / feathers

Short bobbing feather used for hat decoration.

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Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

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“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

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bandana

Large handkerchief with white pattern on red or blue background.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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Reverend Stewart Sheldon

American Home Missionary Society Superintendent 1874-1886.

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axle grease

Lubricant for wagon wheels and other machinery.

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cornmeal mush / hasty pudding

Cornmeal and water, cooked.

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spring tonic

Bitter purifying medicine.

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huckleberry

Let’s have some pie!

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These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

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“Oft in the Stilly Night”

Song from Lalla Rookh.

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Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

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Henry J. Stebbins

Railroad contractor who inspired a song.

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“Home of the Soul”

1865 E.M.H. Gates hymn.

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slate

Stone used as tablet for writing upon.

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auk

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

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blueing bag

Whiter whites.

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isinglass

mica for stove windows

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Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

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turntable

Revolving railroad platform.

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

1793 Robert Burns poem.

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“Mountain of the Lord”

Hymn #52, Pure Gold for the Sunday School

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“Arkansas Traveler”

Traditional American folk song.

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“Beware!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem.

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forfeits

Game in which items are deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine.

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“There is a Happy Land”

Whoop! How those eggs do smell!

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jumping jack / jumping-jack

Jointed acrobat toy.

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certificate

Written testimony of fact.

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Kingsbury County, D.T.

County in eastern South Dakota, organized in 1879.

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ice cream / ice-cream

Sweetened cream, congealed by freezing.

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“Keep the Horse Shoe Over the Door”

1880 Joseph Skelley song.

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Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

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George Wilmarth family

Owner of early grocery store in De Smet.

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Charles Trousdale

De Smet drayman and his performing sons.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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“Hail Columbia”

1789 Philip Phile march.

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Eliza Jane Wilder

Almanzo’s sister.

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lantern

A light meant to be carried.

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basket

Woven container.

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Jerome Bisby

Resident of Burr Oak, Iowa, during the Ingallses’ stay...

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“Gaily Now Our Boat is Sailing”

Singing school exercise

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bacon

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

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Santa Claus / Santa Clause

Ho. Ho. Ho.

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“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

1863 Louis Lambert song.

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Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

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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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“Pop! Goes the Weasel”

Traditional American song.

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needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

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“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

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dovekie

Arctic aquatic bird, Alle alle.

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handcar

Don’t be left behind!

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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chewing gum

Long white sticks of chewiness.

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gaiters

Cloth ankle covering.

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“The Floating Scow of Old Virginia”

1847 Charles White song.

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“Bo-peep has lost her sheep”

Game of hiding and surprise to amuse a small child.

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Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

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“Kitty Wells”

1858 Sloan & Atherton song.

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David Thorp

Walnut Grove teacher 1877-78.

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Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

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“The Silver Moon”

Sail on, silver moon…

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crow

Large black bird of genus Corvus.

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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Birthday

Happy Birthday, Laura!

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elevator

Warehouse for seed and grain.

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Syndicate Hotel

Laura & Almanzo stayed there!

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William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

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“Am I a Soldier of the Cross”

Isaac Watts hymn.

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“The Rock of Ages”

Painting at Rev. Brown’s.

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tiger

Noah’s ark toy piece.

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sewing machine

“Such beautiful stitching!”

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Peytona & Fashion

Currier & Ives print at Rocky Ridge Farm.

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“Darling Nellie Gray”

1856 Benjamin Hamby song.

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Hill-Billy

1926 Rose Wilder Lane book.

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“The Blue Juniata”

1841 Marion Dix Sullivan song.

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Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

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roller towel

Long towel with ends sewn together, hung on a rod.

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anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

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Little House in the Big Woods – the fictional story

Once upon a time, 60 years ago…

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Charles Barker

Early De Smet grocer.

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Silas Rood

Rude by name & nature?

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls today

Little town along the Zumbro River.

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“For the Sake o’ Somebody”

1794 Robert Burns poem.

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“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

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Christopher Columbus

A native of Genoa, in Italy.

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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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“Jesus Holds My Hand”

Hymn #85, Pure Gold for the Sunday Schools

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depot / station

Railway station.

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“Rock of Ages”

1760s Augustus Toplady hymn.

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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ticket

All aboard!

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“Three Blind Mice”

Popular nursery song, sung in rounds.

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“Captain Jinks”

1868 comedic opera song.

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patent / title

official property ownership document

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St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

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“The High Tide”

Jean Ingelow poem.

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Mr. Anderson / Niels Kopperud

Hard Winter wheat settler

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popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

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fichu

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

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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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“The Girl I Left Behind Me”

17th century Irish tune.

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stockade

Enclosure of posts or sticks.

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basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

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awl

pokes holes

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“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

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“Come In and Shut the Door”

Circa 1862 song by J.P.H.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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copyright / permissions

Please do not plagiarize.

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tattoo

Sounds like beating drums!

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dictionary

The words of a language.

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Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

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zenith

The point of the heavens directly overhead.

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copper

Cu

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“Rock Me to Sleep”

Elizabeth Allen poem.

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geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

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A Modern Musketeer

In which Rose becomes a great actress.

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swimming hole

Watch out for ankle grabbers!

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“The Treadmill Song”

Oliver Wendell Holmes poem set to music.

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kerosene / kerosine

Oil used for lighting.

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the children’s blizzard

January 12, 1888, blizzard.

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Little Town on the Prairie – historical perspective

De Smet D.T. in the 1880s.

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birds in their little nests agree

Miss Wilder knew nothing about birds.

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“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

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“The Gypsy King”

Young Laura and Mary’s favorite song!

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Charles Ingalls: The Civil War Years

Charles Ingalls: the Civil War Years

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“All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border”

1829 Sir Walter Scott air.

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Alfred Thomas

He was MARRIED, people!!

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Laura Remington

Mrs. Phillip Aubrey Lawrence

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clear, pure green sky

Sunlight separated into colored bands at sunset.

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“The Battle-Cry of Freedom”

We’ll Rally Round the Flag, Boys!

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tiger lily

Native spotted flower of tallgrass prairie.

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Pa’s red & white checked mittens

Fair Isle pattern.

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Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

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“Mary of the Wild Moor”

1845 song by Joseph W. Turner.

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cranberry

Good ones bounce!

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“all’s well that ends well”

A proverb.

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“Lilly Dale” / “Lily Dale”

1852 song by H.S. Thomson.

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