Read more

Carrie Ingalls

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

Read more

Read more

cradle scythe

Blade and handle used to cut oats.

Read more

Read more

Little Town on the Prairie – historical perspective

De Smet D.T. in the 1880s.

Read more

Read more

bacon

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

Read more

Read more

black-berry / blackberry

The berry of the bramble, Rubus fruticosous.

Read more

Read more

Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

Read more

Read more

acre

4840 square yards of land.

Read more

Read more

buffalo beans

Prairie ground plum.

Read more

Read more

I

“I am Mrs. Jinks…” – “I wouldn’t marry a farmer”

Read more

Read more

James Kennedy family

Walnut Grove farming family, originally from Canada.

Read more

Read more

Margaret Garland family / Cap Garland

Family living behind the Ingallses in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

“Pop! Goes the Weasel”

Traditional American song.

Read more

Read more

cat hole / cat-hole

Jack will keep other animals from using it.

Read more

Read more

mud hen / mudhen

American coot.

Read more

Read more

“Barbary Allen”

Old Scotch tune.

Read more

Read more

Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Hymnal owned by the Ingalls family.

Read more

Read more

Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

Read more

Read more

herd

A number of large beasts assembled together.

Read more

Read more

“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

Read more

Read more

James McKee family

Homesteader north of Manchester D.T.

Read more

Read more

swimming hole

Watch out for ankle grabbers!

Read more

Read more

birds’-nest pudding

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

Read more

Read more

James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

Read more

Read more

carding-machine

Straightens fibers by combing.

Read more

Read more

Pa’s “big green book”

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

Read more

Read more

The House that Jack Built

…for two pieces of money.

Read more

Read more

literary society

Instructional and entertaining gathering.

Read more

Read more

John James Ingalls

Senator from Kansas.

Read more

Read more

The Floweret

1842 book of verse by Anna Maria Wells.

Read more

Read more

Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

Read more

Read more

Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

Read more

Read more

Samuel O. Masters / William J. Masters families

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

Read more

Read more

America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

Read more

Read more

“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

Read more

Read more

“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

Read more

Read more

Laura, the Prairie Girl

1975-76 animated series.

Read more

Read more

The Advance

Weekly family newspaper of the Congregational church.

Read more

Read more

“The Lotos Eaters”

Tennyson poem.

Read more

Read more

spinning wheel / spinning-wheel

Turns wool into yarn.

Read more

Read more

blueing bag

Whiter whites.

Read more

Read more

ante-over / anti-over / anteover

Game in which a ball is thrown over a structure.

Read more

Read more

Brownsville, Texas 1906

Did Eliza Jane sell fruit to these soldiers?

Read more

Read more

orthography

The art of spelling words correctly.

Read more

Read more

snowplow

Clears the tracks.

Read more

Read more

“Billy Boy”

English folk song.

Read more

Read more

willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

Read more

Read more

locust

Buy this book.

Read more

Read more

President George Washington

First President of the U.S.A.

Read more

Read more

“nervous as a witch”

restless

Read more

Read more

“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

Read more

Read more

Yankton, Dakota Territory

1879 land office town.

Read more

Read more

flag

the banner

Read more

Read more

“Highland Mary”

1799 Robert Burns songs, favorite of Mary Ingalls.

Read more

Read more

“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

Read more

Read more

Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

Read more

Read more

wintergreen

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

Read more

Read more

hoity-toity snip

Thoughtless, giddy, haughty, flighty, gay, and noisy.

Read more

Read more

riot / Tracy railroad strike

Tracy in June, not De Smet in September

Read more

Read more

hardtack

Unleavened hard bread made from flour and water.

Read more

Read more

wonderful house / frame house

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

Read more

Read more

writ of attachment

Legal document requiring action.

Read more

Read more

William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

Read more

Read more

claim

The land to which one has a right.

Read more

Read more

nubia

A light scarf worn about the head and neck.

Read more

Read more

Walnut Grove during the Little House years

Village in Redwood County, Minnesota

Read more

Read more

zebra

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

Read more

Read more

Big Sioux River / Sioux River

SD-IA tributary of Missouri River.

Read more

Read more

“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

Read more

Read more

Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

Read more

Read more

Caroline Ingalls

Mother of Laura Ingalls. She lived 1839-1924.

Read more

Read more

U

udder – upland

Read more

Read more

“Hail Columbia”

1789 Philip Phile march.

Read more

Read more

mowing machine

Farm implement for cutting hay or grain.

Read more

Read more

Burr Oak today

Only Ingalls home in original location.

Read more

Read more

Dr. Robert Hoyt

Husband of Mattie Masters.

Read more

Read more

Silliman Gilbert family

Kingsbury County farmer.

Read more

Read more

wristlets

Knitted bands worn around the wrists for warmth.

Read more

Read more

water alcove

Railroad car water for drinking.

Read more

Read more

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Laura’s handwritten manuscript.

Read more

Read more

Laura Speaks

Al-MAN-zo, Al-MAN-zo, Al-MAN-zo

Read more

Read more

Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

Read more

Read more

Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls

Heather Williams book.

Read more

Read more

Wilder feed store

Shhh. There’s wheat in the wall!

Read more

Read more

scour / scouring brick

To rub hard for the purpose of cleaning.

Read more

Read more

Old Military Tract

Franklin Co. NY map reference

Read more

Read more

popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

Read more

Read more

flag, the flower

An aquatic flower, Iris versicolor.

Read more

Read more

“Uncle Ned”

One of the earliest Stephen Foster songs.

Read more

Read more

De Smet today

Where I would like to be right now.

Read more

Read more

apron

Garment protector.

Read more

Read more

“Jerusalem the Golden”

Hymn from Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

Read more

Read more

Missouri Pool

Smoked a pipe & grew pretty flowers.

Read more

Read more

udder

Where the milk is before milking.

Read more

Read more

stanchion

Support frame.

Read more

Read more

Jerome Bisby

Burr Oak singing teacher

Read more

Read more

Mary Blanche Howard

Mary’s roommate in Vinton.

Read more

Read more

B

bachelor – “by the pale, silver light…”

Read more

Read more

“The May Queen”

Poem in three parts by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

Read more

Read more

Ella & Robert Boast

Friends of the Ingalls family in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

“Bo-peep has lost her sheep”

Game of hiding and surprise to amuse a small child.

Read more

Read more

starch

cloth stiffener

Read more

Read more

storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

Read more

Read more

census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

Read more

Read more

“The Star-Spangled Banner”

Our National Anthem; words by Francis Scott Key.

Read more

Read more

“Song of the Grass”

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

Read more

Read more

Laura’s Bible references

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

Read more

Read more

Tennyson’s Poems

Christmas present for Laura

Read more

Read more

Spat them Out

Clapping (and kissing) game.

Read more

Read more

Eleck Nelson family

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

Read more

Read more

gopher

Four don’t go fur…

Read more

Read more

Farmer Boy – the fictional story

Almanzo Wilder’s childhood in Burke NY.

Read more

Read more

“The Gypsy’s Warning”

1864 Henry Coard song.

Read more

Read more

President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

Read more

Read more

hulled corn

Hominy.

Read more

Read more

ostrich tips / feathers

Short bobbing feather used for hat decoration.

Read more

Read more

Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

Read more

Read more

tax

A certainty, as is death.

Read more

Read more

Ingalls office / store in De Smet

NW and SE corners of Calumet and Second.

Read more

Read more

“Lend a Helping Hand”

Hymn #22, Pure Gold for Sunday School.

Read more

Read more

welcome!

who we are

Read more

Read more

K

Kansas – knothole

Read more

Read more

“There is a Happy Land”

Whoop! How those eggs do smell!

Read more

Read more

fascinator

Pretty, light head covering.

Read more

Read more

sulky / sulky plow

One-seated conveyance.

Read more

Read more

shoe pegs

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

Read more

Read more

stone fences

Rock wall enclosure.

Read more

Read more

post office / post-office

Where you send and receive mail.

Read more

Read more

De Smet during the Little House years

The Ingalls family moved here in 1879.

Read more

Read more

snow-fort

“Holler ’nuff!”

Read more

Read more

apple pie / dried apple pie

Just like Ma used to make.

Read more

Read more

ice cream / ice-cream

Sweetened cream, congealed by freezing.

Read more

Read more

“Oh Boys, Carry Me Along”

Stephen Foster song.

Read more

Read more

Orion E. Stearns

Caught by blizzard of ’88.

Read more

Read more

Pioneer Girl

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s memoir.

Read more

Read more

velvet

Silk or blend fabric with short shag surface.

Read more

Read more

“Kitty Wells”

1858 Sloan & Atherton song.

Read more

Read more

gosh!

that wicked word

Read more

Read more

album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

Read more

Read more

Belgian horse

They’d pull a barn, if hitched to it.

Read more

Read more

claim jumper / Mr. Hunter / Jack Hunt

One who ousts another from their land.

Read more

Read more

reindeer

Why didn’t they fly over the creek?

Read more

Read more

“The Silver Moon”

Sail on, silver moon…

Read more

Read more

Laura’s wedding silver

Wm. Rogers’ “Crown” silverplate.

Read more

Read more

“The Big Sunflower”

Pa’s trouble song.

Read more

Read more

Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

Read more

Read more

“Mary of the Wild Moor”

1845 song by Joseph W. Turner.

Read more

Read more

pumpkin

The plant and fruit of Curcubita pepo

Read more

Read more

depot / station

Railway station.

Read more

Read more

tea

A man’s drink in cold weather.

Read more

Read more

Alfred Thomas

He was MARRIED, people!!

Read more

Read more

fever ‘n’ ague / malaria

malaria

Read more

Read more

whiffle-tree / whiffletree

Bar to attach traces to.

Read more

Read more

bangs / lunatic fringe

hair across the forehead

Read more

Read more

“The Campbells are Coming”

Traditional Scottish jig.

Read more

Read more

Marshall, Minnesota

Almanzo Wilder farmed here in 1879-1880.

Read more

Read more

Mother Goose

Fictionalized compiler of ancient nursery rhymes.

Read more

Read more

Morocco leather

Fine goat leather.

Read more

Read more

“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

Read more

Read more

“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land”

1860 Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

Read more

Read more

Becky Newhall / Rebecca Stewart

Classmate of Laura Ingalls in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

Read more

Read more

W

wage – writ of attachment

Read more

Read more

prairie danglers

seventhwinter whimsey’s glass slide pendants!

Read more

Read more

John D. Peirson

Early De Smet liveryman.

Read more

Read more

legal cap

legal document paper

Read more

Read more

churn

Cream agitator.

Read more

Read more

spider

Legged cooking vessel.

Read more

Read more

“Irish Washerwoman”

Traditional Scottish and Irish song/dance song.

Read more

Read more

galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

Read more

Read more

mother-of-pearl

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

Read more

Read more

claim shanty

Temporary dwelling.

Read more

Read more

Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

Read more

Read more

“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

Read more

Read more

twisting hay

makes a hot, quick fire

Read more

Read more

windrow

Line of hay raked together.

Read more

Read more

“Marching Through Georgia”

Union song from American Civil War.

Read more

Read more

John H. Carroll

Early De Smet banker.

Read more

Read more

Dolly Varden

NIckname of Edith Ingalls, Laura’s cousin.

Read more

Read more

fichu

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

Read more

Read more

copper-toed shoes

Metal shoe protector.

Read more

Read more

Alice & Arthur Whiting

Cousin Alice Ingalls Whiting’s family.

Read more

Read more

The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

Read more

Read more

sewing machine

“Such beautiful stitching!”

Read more

Read more

silver castor

Rotating condiment set.

Read more

Read more

engine / locomotive / iron horse

Vehicle powered by steam and run on tracks.

Read more

Read more

primer

Used to teach someone to read.

Read more

Read more

“In the Starlight”

1878 Glover & Carpenter song.

Read more

Read more

“On Jordan’s Stormy Banks”

Long Winter song

Read more

Read more

Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

Read more

Read more

blacking / stove-blacking / boot blacking

Preparation used to make things black.

Read more

Read more

last

Mold of a foot, used in making shoes.

Read more

Read more

“Ben Bolt”

1842 Thomas Dunn English song.

Read more

Read more

Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

A

aboveboard – axle

Read more

Read more

cameo

Aunt Docia’s pretty collar pin.

Read more

Read more

butter

Edible fatty substance made by churning cream.

Read more

Read more

tiger

Noah’s ark toy piece.

Read more

Read more

oranges

Citrus fruit.

Read more

Read more

“Yankee Doodle”

Early song brought to America from Britain.

Read more

Read more

Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

Read more