Read more

John Ensign family

Quit crying, Howard.

Read more

Read more

udder

Where the milk is before milking.

Read more

Read more

blacking / stove-blacking / boot blacking

Preparation used to make things black.

Read more

Read more

candle / tallow

Used to furnish light.

Read more

Read more

Mr. Anderson / Niels Kopperud

Hard Winter wheat settler

Read more

Read more

Young Pioneers

David and Molly Beaton.

Read more

Read more

Chariton County, Missouri

Location of land purchased in 1868 by Charles Ingalls, Henry Quiner, and Tom Quiner.

Read more

Read more

beet

Succulent root vegetable.

Read more

Read more

Charles Barker

Early De Smet grocer.

Read more

Read more

gaiters

Cloth ankle covering.

Read more

Read more

riot / Tracy railroad strike

Tracy in June, not De Smet in September

Read more

Read more

bastion

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

Read more

Read more

“Nobody Ask’d You”

“Where are you going, my pretty maid?”

Read more

Read more

Frogs at School

“Twenty froggies went to school…”

Read more

Read more

kerosene / kerosine

Oil used for lighting.

Read more

Read more

Jim River / James River

A tributary of the Missouri River.

Read more

Read more

“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

Read more

Read more

Lansford James Ingalls family

Pa’s brother and Laura’s uncle.

Read more

Read more

geranium

Winter windowsill flowers.

Read more

Read more

B

bachelor – “by the pale, silver light…”

Read more

Read more

Introspections of an Individualist

Norma Lee Browning article about Rose Wilder Lane.

Read more

Read more

“Beware!”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem.

Read more

Read more

jumping jack / jumping-jack

Jointed acrobat toy.

Read more

Read more

F

Fair Grounds – furrow

Read more

Read more

Quaker meeting

Parlor game in which players try to remain silent.

Read more

Read more

cornice

Molded roof or window projection.

Read more

Read more

“Highland Mary”

1799 Robert Burns songs, favorite of Mary Ingalls.

Read more

Read more

Almanzo Wilder

The Man of the Place

Read more

Read more

How well do you know the Little House books?

a quiz for you!

Read more

Read more

Pioneer Press

St. Paul newspaper read by Charles Ingalls in De Smet

Read more

Read more

Farmer Boy – the fictional story

Almanzo Wilder’s childhood in Burke NY.

Read more

Read more

“Lilly Dale” / “Lily Dale”

1852 song by H.S. Thomson.

Read more

Read more

cream of tartar / baking powder

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

Read more

Read more

Bloody Benders

Serial killers in 1870s Kansas.

Read more

Read more

wall-paper

Wall covering.

Read more

Read more

“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

Read more

Read more

Charleton Fuller / Gerald Fuller

Hardware store owner, partnered with his brother Gerald.

Read more

Read more

Father Pierre Jean De Smet

Missionary for whom the town of De Smet was named

Read more

Read more

scour / scouring brick

To rub hard for the purpose of cleaning.

Read more

Read more

ice-house

Stores ice blocks in warm weather.

Read more

Read more

M

Ma – “My Sabbath Home”

Read more

Read more

“The High Tide”

Jean Ingelow poem.

Read more

Read more

The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

Read more

Read more

slate

Stone used as tablet for writing upon.

Read more

Read more

twilight

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

Read more

Read more

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography

Laura’s handwritten manuscript.

Read more

Read more

R

rabbit – rye

Read more

Read more

buck / buckskin

Male of the fallow deer, and leather made from its skin.

Read more

Read more

watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

Read more

Read more

flag

the banner

Read more

Read more

“The Big Sunflower”

Pa’s trouble song.

Read more

Read more

poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

Read more

Read more

Charles Philip Ingalls

Father of Laura Ingalls. He lived 1836-1902.

Read more

Read more

“Home of the Soul”

1865 E.M.H. Gates hymn.

Read more

Read more

worm / angleworm

common soil worm

Read more

Read more

“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

Read more

Read more

china shepherdess / little china woman

Ingalls family figurine.

Read more

Read more

handcar

Don’t be left behind!

Read more

Read more

These Happy Golden Years – historical perspective

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

Read more

Read more

oranges

Citrus fruit.

Read more

Read more

church

Place of Christian worship.

Read more

Read more

“There is a Happy Land”

Whoop! How those eggs do smell!

Read more

Read more

“Bo-peep has lost her sheep”

Game of hiding and surprise to amuse a small child.

Read more

Read more

bobolink

On Mary Power’s name card.

Read more

Read more

honey

Bee-made sweetness.

Read more

Read more

“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

Read more

Read more

George A. Williams

Superintendent of Schools, 1883.

Read more

Read more

breast-pin / brooch / bar pin

Ornament worn on clothing.

Read more

Read more

le cadeau du cheval

mosaic painting featuring Almanzo’s Morgan horses

Read more

Read more

Mother Goose

Fictionalized compiler of ancient nursery rhymes.

Read more

Read more

“Pull for the Shore”

Sunshine for Sunday Schools hymn.

Read more

Read more

David Thorp

Walnut Grove teacher 1877-78.

Read more

Read more

dovekie

Arctic aquatic bird, Alle alle.

Read more

Read more

“Auld Lang Syne”

Now is now. It can never be a long time ago.

Read more

Read more

John Armstrong

Kingsbury Co. courthouse caretaker

Read more

Read more

vanity cakes

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

Read more

Read more

Silver Lake

Kingsbury County prairie pothole lake.

Read more

Read more

lime / whitewash

Oxide of calcium mixed with water and used for whitening.

Read more

Read more

“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

Read more

Read more

Big Sioux River / Sioux River

SD-IA tributary of Missouri River.

Read more

Read more

mantel-shelf

Shelf above a fireplace.

Read more

Read more

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

Read more

Read more

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Birthday

Happy Birthday, Laura!

Read more

Read more

name card / name-card

Pasteboard identification.

Read more

Read more

Henry Burvee

One of the first settlers in Kingsbury Co.

Read more

Read more

muskrat

Their houses predict winter weather.

Read more

Read more

Ida Belle Wright

Laura’s best friend in De Smet

Read more

Read more

“Tubal Cain”

Charles McKay poem.

Read more

Read more

“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

Read more

Read more

Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

ice cream social

Laura and Almanzo didn’t enjoy it.

Read more

Read more

starry papers

Hand-made shelf edging.

Read more

Read more

chewing gum

Long white sticks of chewiness.

Read more

Read more

“The Sculptor Boy”

Carrie recited it.

Read more

Read more

ambition

Act of obtaining an object of desire.

Read more

Read more

Julia & Amasa Tower

Walnut Grove church friends.

Read more

Read more

saleratus / soda

Leavening agents used in baking.

Read more

Read more

icicle

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

Read more

Read more

Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

Read more

Read more

Have you seen the comet?

Tebbutt’s Great Comet of 1881.

Read more

Read more

Frank M. Cooley family

On the Way home travelers.

Read more

Read more

last

Mold of a foot, used in making shoes.

Read more

Read more

cameo

Aunt Docia’s pretty collar pin.

Read more

Read more

squirrel

Rodent mammal of the genus Sciurus.

Read more

Read more

Little Town on the Prairie – the fictional story

Homesteading and town life.

Read more

Read more

mother-of-pearl

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

Read more

Read more

greenhorn / greeny

Immature, raw, awkward.

Read more

Read more

amen / amen corner

Expression used at the end of prayers.

Read more

Read more

Y

“Yankee Doodle” – Youth’s Companion

Read more

Read more

“Coming Through the Rye”

Robert Burns tune.

Read more

Read more

alley / alleyway

Narrow passageway, distinct from public street.

Read more

Read more

Verdigris River

River that runs through Montgomery County, Kansas.

Read more

Read more

popcorn

Heat makes it burst & it’s tasty.

Read more

Read more

pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

Read more

Read more

“De Boatmen’s Dance”

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

Read more

Read more

tiger lily

Native spotted flower of tallgrass prairie.

Read more

Read more

“In the Starlight”

1878 Glover & Carpenter song.

Read more

Read more

“I Wish I Was in Dixie’s Land”

1860 Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

Read more

Read more

whiskey

Spirits distilled from grain.

Read more

Read more

Fred Fields / Big Jerry

Railroad boss and his brother-in-law.

Read more

Read more

St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

Read more

Read more

D

daisy – dye

Read more

Read more

turnip

Cruciferous plant grown for root and greens.

Read more

Read more

spider

Legged cooking vessel.

Read more

Read more

The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

Read more

Read more

pen / pen-wiper

An instrument used for writing. / Material used to clean it after writing.

Read more

Read more

On the Banks of Plum Creek – the fictional story

Farming struggles in Minnesota.

Read more

Read more

door knob

Grab to open a door.

Read more

Read more

Belgian horse

They’d pull a barn, if hitched to it.

Read more

Read more

Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

Silliman Gilbert family

Kingsbury County farmer.

Read more

Read more

peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

Read more

Read more

“yell like a Comanche”

Imitated Indian battle cry.

Read more

Read more

George Wilmarth family

Owner of early grocery store in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

swimming hole

Watch out for ankle grabbers!

Read more

Read more

Missouri Pool

Smoked a pipe & grew pretty flowers.

Read more

Read more

cosy / cozy

snug and comfortable

Read more

Read more

carved wooden bracket

Place for a china shepherdess.

Read more

Read more

windlass

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

Read more

Read more

trough

Stock-watering vessel.

Read more

Read more

dickcissel / dickie-bird

A semi-nomadic finch, Spiza americana.

Read more

Read more

beard / whiskers

Facial hair.

Read more

Read more

Will Barnes

Walnut Grove laborer

Read more

Read more

Reverend Stewart Sheldon

American Home Missionary Society Superintendent 1874-1886.

Read more

Read more

bake oven / bake-oven

Coals on top and below.

Read more

Read more

Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

Read more

Read more

twine

A strong twisted thread.

Read more

Read more

“Old Dan Tucker”

Mr. Edwards sings it!

Read more

Read more

“Uncle Sam’s Farm”

1848 Jesse Hutchinson, Jr. song.

Read more

Read more

chilblain

Cold sores on hands and feet.

Read more

Read more

forfeits

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

Read more

Read more

black bird / blackbird

Name given to various American birds.

Read more

Read more

“The Evergreen Shore”

1861 William Hunter song.

Read more

Read more

World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition

Destination of the Wilder brothers in the fall of 1884.

Read more

Read more

surveyor

One who measures land and delineates the same on paper.

Read more

Read more

Maude Blair

Walnut Grove friend of Laura’s

Read more

Read more

bangs / lunatic fringe

hair across the forehead

Read more

Read more

basque

Jacket-like part of a lady’s dress.

Read more

Read more

Henry Hinz

Owner of first saloon in De Smet and boarder at the Ingallses’.

Read more

Read more

Charles H. Tinkham

Early undertaker and owner of the first furniture store in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

Carrie Ingalls, Homesteader

W-NW & W-SW 9-4N-20E of Black Hills Meridian

Read more

Read more

Jesse French

Butchered oxen during the Hard Winter.

Read more

Read more

reindeer

Why didn’t they fly over the creek?

Read more

Read more

surveyors’ house

railroad section house occupied by the Ingallses in 1879-1880

Read more

Read more

Joseph Bouchie family

Fictional Brewster family in THGY.

Read more

Read more

Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls

Heather Williams book.

Read more

Read more

accordion

musical instrument

Read more

Read more

Rev. Royal Gould Wilder

Almanzo’s uncle.

Read more

Read more

Perley Day Wilder

Almanzo’s youngest brother.

Read more

Read more

The Athenians

Hartville, Mo. study club.

Read more

Read more

mud hen / mudhen

American coot.

Read more

Read more

copper-toed shoes

Metal shoe protector.

Read more

Read more

“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

1863 Louis Lambert song.

Read more

Read more

the children’s blizzard

January 12, 1888, blizzard.

Read more

Read more

ground-cherry

Variety of husk tomato.

Read more

Read more

dried-raspberry sauce

Dried sauce good on biscuits.

Read more

Read more

“My Sabbath Home”

Hymn #7, Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

Read more

Read more

“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Read more

Read more

needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

Read more

Read more

Oscar Rhuel / Röhl

A romantic figure…

Read more

Read more

Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

Q

quaker meeting – quinine

Read more

Read more

morning-glory

Climbing plant of the genus Ipomœa.

Read more

Read more

J

jabot – Justice of the Peace

Read more

Read more

“Uncle John”

Play song to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

Read more

Read more

Burr Oak today

Only Ingalls home in original location.

Read more

Read more

“My Old Kentucky Home”

1853 Stephen Foster song.

Read more

Read more

Ernest & Minnie Green

This is not Mary & Edwin Sanford!

Read more

Read more

“The Heavens Declare the Glory”

From The Conqueror, page 144.

Read more

Read more

dove-in-the-window / bear’s tracks

Patchwork pattern variations.

Read more

Read more

post office / post-office

Where you send and receive mail.

Read more

Read more

Charles Ely

Early lumber man in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

James McKee family

Homesteader north of Manchester D.T.

Read more

Read more

“Jerusalem the Golden”

Hymn from Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

Read more

Read more

handkerchief

Face and hand wiping cloth.

Read more

Read more

“Mary of the Wild Moor”

1845 song by Joseph W. Turner.

Read more

Read more

South Troy / Zumbro Falls today

Little town along the Zumbro River.

Read more

Read more

bison / “The Bison Track”

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

Read more

Read more

Delos Perry family

The Perry School was on his homestead.

Read more

Read more

snow-fort

“Holler ’nuff!”

Read more