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wonderful house / frame house

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

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patent / title

official property ownership document

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anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

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Caroline Ingalls

Mother of Laura Ingalls. She lived 1839-1924.

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shoe pegs

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

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“De Boatmen’s Dance”

Away Down the RIver on the O-hi-o.

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Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

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Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

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literature

Knowledge and fancy preserved in writing.

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lemon

The citrus fruit

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Protected: Alfred Ely

One of the younger boys in school.

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roller towel

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

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“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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spider

Legged cooking vessel.

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Have you seen the comet?

Tebbutt’s Great Comet of 1881.

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morning-glory

Climbing plant of the genus Ipomœa.

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apron

Garment protector.

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De Smet today

Where I would like to be right now.

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bandana

Large handkerchief with white pattern on red or blue background.

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“Mary of the Wild Moor”

1845 song by Joseph W. Turner.

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Laura’s wedding silver

Wm. Rogers’ “Crown” silverplate.

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George C. Bradley

Early De Smet druggist.

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Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

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J

jabot – Justice of the Peace

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Laura Speaks

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

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Mr. Edwards / Edmund Mason

Was he Edmund Mason?

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ice cream / ice-cream

Sweetened cream, congealed by freezing.

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barrel

Round vessel or cask made of wooden staves.

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Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

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watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

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Mr. Hanson

Walnut Grove land trader.

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

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Burke / Malone during the Little House years

Almanzo Wilder birthplace.

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cornice

Molded roof or window projection.

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Perley Day Wilder

Almanzo’s youngest brother.

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“The Gypsy’s Warning”

1864 Henry Coard song.

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Mrs. Jarley’s Wax Works

Rise! Come forward!

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Lost, between sunrise and sunset…

Horace Mann quotation from his Writings, published in 1872.

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Volga, Dakota Territory

Town on the Dakota Central R.R. between Brookings and Arlington, platted in 1879.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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hulled corn

Hominy.

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S

Sabbath – sycamore

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Timothy Johnson family

De Smet Wagon Shop.

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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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bison / “The Bison Track”

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

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harvest moon

Full moon nearest autumnal equinox

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mowing machine

Farm implement for cutting hay or grain.

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“Don’t Leave the Farm, Boys”

Song from The Conqueror.

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Delos Perry family

The Perry School was on his homestead.

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biscuits

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

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storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

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“Uncle Ned”

One of the earliest Stephen Foster songs.

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Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

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ticket

All aboard!

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starry papers

Hand-made shelf edging.

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Mother Goose

Fictionalized compiler of ancient nursery rhymes.

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August Hanson

The Ingallses’ next door neighbor in De Smet.

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galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

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Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

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“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

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Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

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Rocky Ridge Farm

The Wilders’ Missouri farm east of Mansfield

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“Tubal Cain”

Charles McKay poem.

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Pittsburgh Courier

Widely-circulated black newspaper, which Rose Wilder Lane wrote a column for in the 1940s.

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“The Old Time”

Mr. Boast’s favorite song.

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“To a Girl”

Poem used to describe Beatrice Sorchan.

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Baby Boy Wilder

Son of Laura and Almanzo Wilder

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pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

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“The May Queen”

Poem in three parts by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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South Troy / Zumbro Falls today

Little town along the Zumbro River.

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Ella & Robert Boast

Friends of the Ingalls family in De Smet.

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Peytona & Fashion

Currier & Ives print at Rocky Ridge Farm.

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bank

financial institution

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thunder-pumps

American bittern, a member of the heron family.

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Noah’s ark toy

Willie’s toy boat with animals.

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velocipede

Carriage propelled by pedals or feet.

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Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

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Lansford James Ingalls family

Pa’s brother and Laura’s uncle.

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“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

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“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

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Timber Culture Act / tree claim

Passed by Congress, March 3, 1873.

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tomahawk

War hatchet used by American Indians.

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“The Tides” / The moon is at its full

1860 William Cullen Bryant poem.

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Charlotte Quiner Holbrook

Caroline Ingalls’ mother

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Uncle Sam

Figure symbolizing the United States.

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chewing gum

Long white sticks of chewiness.

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copyright / permissions

Please do not plagiarize.

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cream of tartar / baking powder

Byproduct of wine-making process, used in baking as leavening agent.

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squirrel

Rodent mammal of the genus Sciurus.

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missionary barrel

Collection of items distributed to the needy.

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Walnut Grove during the Little House years

Village in Redwood County, Minnesota

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sewing machine

“Such beautiful stitching!”

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Pa’s red & white checked mittens

Fair Isle pattern.

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Pioneer Press

St. Paul newspaper read by Charles Ingalls in De Smet

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The Youth’s Companion

Weekly instructional magazine for children, first published in 1827.

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Kitty

the Ingallses’ cat in Dakota Territory

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“Barbary Allen”

Old Scotch tune.

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“Gaily Now Our Boat is Sailing”

Singing school exercise

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Eliza Jane Wilder

Almanzo’s sister.

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Charles Ely

Early lumber man in De Smet.

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“The Floating Scow of Old Virginia”

1847 Charles White song.

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“Money Musk”

Traditional American dance tune.

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“The Treadmill Song”

Oliver Wendell Holmes poem set to music.

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“Jesus Holds My Hand”

Hymn #85, Pure Gold for the Sunday Schools

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“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

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apprentice

One who is legally bound to another to learn a trade or art.

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chapel

Place of worship.

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John Anderson

Walnut Grove store clerk & more

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windlass

Device to move water or dirt from the bottom of a well to ground level.

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axle grease

Lubricant for wagon wheels and other machinery.

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By the Shores of Silver Lake – the fictional story

The railroad comes to Dakota.

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poultice

Applied to sores to help them heal.

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satchel

Small, soft-sided handled luggage.

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I

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

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Introspections of an Individualist

Norma Lee Browning article about Rose Wilder Lane.

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Docia Ingalls / Hiram Forbes

Sister of Charles Ingalls married to railroad contractor.

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“I Wish I Was Single Again”

1871 J.C. Beckel song.

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popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

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Fred Fields / Big Jerry

Railroad boss and his brother-in-law.

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forfeits

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

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Mary Blanche Howard

Mary’s roommate in Vinton.

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sundogs

Bright spots on either side of the sun.

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“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

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Protected: private post

Go away AI; you are not welcome here.

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freeze drying

sublimation!

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hatchet

A small ax with a short handle, to be used with one hand.

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Bloody Benders

Serial killers in 1870s Kansas.

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Marvin Hughitt

Officer and President of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company.

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Orion E. Stearns

Caught by blizzard of ’88.

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“A Motto for Every Man”

1868 Harry Clifton song.

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osage orange

no good to eat or for anything else

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the Cameron gang

fiat justitia, ruat caelum…

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consumption

A wasting disease, pulmonary tuberculosis.

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claim jumper / Mr. Hunter / Jack Hunt

One who ousts another from their land.

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huckleberry

Let’s have some pie!

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Margaret Garland family / Cap Garland

Family living behind the Ingallses in De Smet.

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“Oh! Susanna”

Stephen Foster song.

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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album

Blank booklet for collecting autographs or photos.

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coal / coal hod

Carbonized plant matter mined and used as fuel.

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twilight

Light when the sun is 0-18 degrees below the horizon.

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surveyors’ house

railroad section house occupied by the Ingallses in 1879-1880

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Laura, the Prairie Girl

1975-76 animated series.

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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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Walter Ogden

Surveyors’ House housemate 1879-80

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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Willard Seelye

De Smet teacher, 1881-1882.

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Tennyson’s Poems

Christmas present for Laura

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Little House on the Prairie – historical perspective

LHOP history

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“Home of the Soul”

1865 E.M.H. Gates hymn.

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basket

Woven container.

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powder horn / powder-horn

Animal horn in which gunpowder is carried.

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Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

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gosh!

that wicked word

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Carrie Ingalls

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

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cranberry

Good ones bounce!

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Indian camps

Look! Beads!

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M

Ma – “My Sabbath Home”

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blizzard

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

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T

tableland – two-faced

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rubber

Used for waterproofing.

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Ernest & Minnie Green

This is not Mary & Edwin Sanford!

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Supposed Speech of Regulus

From Independent Fifth Reader.

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“The Star-Spangled Banner”

Our National Anthem; words by Francis Scott Key.

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cabin / log house

A small cottage; a hut or small house.

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catechism

Question & answer book of religious doctrine.

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William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

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bale

Specific bundle of goods packaged for transport.

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hair receiver / hair-receiver

Container to save strands of hair in.

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Thomas C. Wilkin family

Florence Wilkin’s father.

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H. W. Cooledge

De Smet photographer.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

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Chicago Inter-Ocean / Inter-Ocean

Republican political newspaper.

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Ida Belle Wright

Laura’s best friend in De Smet

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cameo

Aunt Docia’s pretty collar pin.

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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Thomas H. Ruth

President of Kingsbury County Bank in De Smet.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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riot / Tracy railroad strike

Tracy in June, not De Smet in September

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“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

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Governor of Orleans / The American Remount Association

Registered stallion leased to Almanzo Wilder 1923-1925.

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New England States

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

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whiffle-tree / whiffletree

Bar to attach traces to.

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railroad camp / Silver Lake camp

Temporary dwellings for workers during surveying or construction.

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G

gable – “Gypsy’s Warning”

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Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

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“Mountain of the Lord”

Hymn #52, Pure Gold for the Sunday School

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Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Hymnal owned by the Ingalls family.

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cottonwood tree

Wetland plains tree, Populus fremontii.

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checkers

Game played on a board of 64 squares.

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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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cat hole / cat-hole

Jack will keep other animals from using it.

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ground-cherry

Variety of husk tomato.

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Missouri Pool

Smoked a pipe & grew pretty flowers.

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“The Girl I Left Behind Me”

17th century Irish tune.

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photographs

There’s a little birdie in the camera, Rose.

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