Read more

Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

Read more

Read more

galluses / suspenders

Straps worn for holding up pants.

Read more

Read more

Chicago Inter-Ocean / Inter-Ocean

Republican political newspaper.

Read more

Read more

axle grease

Lubricant for wagon wheels and other machinery.

Read more

Read more

By the Shores of Silver Lake – the fictional story

The railroad comes to Dakota.

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

Jim River / James River

A tributary of the Missouri River.

Read more

Read more

W

wage – writ of attachment

Read more

Read more

cabin / log house

A small cottage; a hut or small house.

Read more

Read more

peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

Read more

Read more

“Bonny Doon”

1792 Robert Burns song.

Read more

Read more

riot / Tracy railroad strike

Tracy in June, not De Smet in September

Read more

Read more

“The Sleighing Glee”

Singing school song.

Read more

Read more

“Haste to the Wedding”

Traditional Irish fiddle tune.

Read more

Read more

fanning-mill

Machine for winnowing.

Read more

Read more

“Oh! Susanna”

Stephen Foster song.

Read more

Read more

blueing bag

Whiter whites.

Read more

Read more

apprentice

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

Read more

Read more

S

Sabbath – sycamore

Read more

Read more

Fred Fields / Big Jerry

Railroad boss and his brother-in-law.

Read more

Read more

Jerome Beardsley family

De Smet hotel keeper.

Read more

Read more

“Gaily Now Our Boat is Sailing”

Singing school exercise

Read more

Read more

Lewis Sasse

De Smet druggist

Read more

Read more

Oscar Rhuel / Röhl

A romantic figure…

Read more

Read more

“Captain Jinks”

1868 comedic opera song.

Read more

Read more

Dr. William H. York

Bender victim

Read more

Read more

Charles H. Tinkham

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

Read more

Read more

X

xanthophyll

Read more

Read more

“Home, Sweet Home”

1823 Payne & Bishop song.

Read more

Read more

killdeer

Small aquatic bird.

Read more

Read more

building paper / tar paper

Crude building paper used for covering.

Read more

Read more

Burr Oak during the Little House years

Town in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

Read more

Read more

Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

Read more

Read more

E

ear flap – expelled

Read more

Read more

tax

A certainty, as is death.

Read more

Read more

Missouri Pool

Smoked a pipe & grew pretty flowers.

Read more

Read more

Henry Ford’s Own Story

Industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company.

Read more

Read more

Peter Pfeiffer family

John May’s son-in-law.

Read more

Read more

cannon

Military engine used for throwing balls and other instruments of death by the force of gunpowder.

Read more

Read more

“The Ninety and Nine”

Elizabeth Clephane poem.

Read more

Read more

“Nellie was a Lady”

…last night she died

Read more

Read more

Laura’s Sorosis Club speech

“My Work”

Read more

Read more

“Bean Porridge Hot”

Bean porridge cold…

Read more

Read more

wall-paper

Wall covering.

Read more

Read more

Perry School

April 28 – June 27, 1884

Read more

Read more

Osage Indian Treaty

Legal agreement between nations or sovereigns.

Read more

Read more

Hamlin Garland

…and his first Christmas tree!

Read more

Read more

Becky Newhall / Rebecca Stewart

Classmate of Laura Ingalls in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

buckwheat pancakes

Seeds of the flowering plant Eriogonum used as a grain.

Read more

Read more

Waverly Novels

Sir Walter Scott books.

Read more

Read more

auk

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

Read more

Read more

“By Lo, Baby Bunting”

Mother Goose rhyme.

Read more

Read more

twisting hay

makes a hot, quick fire

Read more

Read more

Carrie Ingalls, Homesteader

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

Read more

Read more

slate

Stone used as tablet for writing upon.

Read more

Read more

Silver Lake

Kingsbury County prairie pothole lake.

Read more

Read more

Charles Ely

Early lumber man in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

black bird / blackbird

Name given to various American birds.

Read more

Read more

“The Floating Scow of Old Virginia”

1847 Charles White song.

Read more

Read more

Little Georgie Dwight

He could not learn his letters!

Read more

Read more

“Lilly Dale” / “Lily Dale”

1852 song by H.S. Thomson.

Read more

Read more

James Kennedy family

Walnut Grove farming family, originally from Canada.

Read more

Read more

Stories of the Moorland

1869 book by Lizzie Bates about a young boy growing up in Scotland.

Read more

Read more

B

bachelor – “by the pale, silver light…”

Read more

Read more

De Smet Cemetery

Ma & Pa’s final resting place.

Read more

Read more

tiger lily

Native spotted flower of tallgrass prairie.

Read more

Read more

Horace Woodworth family

Family of first depot agent in De Smet.

Read more

Read more

These Happy Golden Years – the fictional story

Laura teaches and falls in love.

Read more

Read more

Mrs. Jarley’s Wax Works

Rise! Come forward!

Read more

Read more

“The High Tide”

Jean Ingelow poem.

Read more

Read more

dug out / dugout

Dwelling built into the earth.

Read more

Read more

awl

pokes holes

Read more

Read more

cosy / cozy

snug and comfortable

Read more

Read more

“Sweet By and By”

Pa’s favorite hymn.

Read more

Read more

rags for paper

scrap cloth purchased for paper making

Read more

Read more

John Ensign family

Quit crying, Howard.

Read more

Read more

Blanche Coday

Rose’s friend.

Read more

Read more

“A Shelter in the Time of Storm”

Ira Sankey hymn.

Read more

Read more

storm apron

Rain protection for buggy.

Read more

Read more

Visscher Barnes

Probate Judge, VP of Temperance Society, and first director of De Smet school board.

Read more

Read more

icicle

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

Read more

Read more

Farmer Boy – the fictional story

Almanzo Wilder’s childhood in Burke NY.

Read more

Read more

jewel box / jewel-box

Nice place to keep a breast-pin.

Read more

Read more

H

hack – hypocrite

Read more

Read more

Timber Culture Act / tree claim

Passed by Congress, March 3, 1873.

Read more

Read more

“The Star of Bethlehem”

When Marshalled on the Nightly Plane

Read more

Read more

“The Evergreen Shore”

1861 William Hunter song.

Read more

Read more

U

udder – upland

Read more

Read more

tomahawk

War hatchet used by American Indians.

Read more

Read more

drop the handkerchief / drop-the-handkerchief

Circle game.

Read more

Read more

jumping jack / jumping-jack

Jointed acrobat toy.

Read more

Read more

Hiram Ingalls

Pa’s brother.

Read more

Read more

“Jingle Bells”

1857 James Pierpont song.

Read more

Read more

William H. Reed

Teacher in Burr Oak school, 1876-1877.

Read more

Read more

George A. Williams

Superintendent of Schools, 1883.

Read more

Read more

elephant

A very large quadruped.

Read more

Read more

orthography

The art of spelling words correctly.

Read more

Read more

winnow

Drive off chaff by wind.

Read more

Read more

cornmeal mush / hasty pudding

Cornmeal and water, cooked.

Read more

Read more

Mr. Anderson / Niels Kopperud

Hard Winter wheat settler

Read more

Read more

anvil

Iron block to hammer upon.

Read more

Read more

oranges

Citrus fruit.

Read more

Read more

bake oven / bake-oven

Coals on top and below.

Read more

Read more

O

oak – oyster

Read more

Read more

Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

Read more

Read more

“I Wish I Was Single Again”

1871 J.C. Beckel song.

Read more

Read more

Jerome Bisby

Burr Oak singing teacher

Read more

Read more

needle grass

Ouch! Something bit me!

Read more

Read more

Y

“Yankee Doodle” – Youth’s Companion

Read more

Read more

On the Banks of Plum Creek – historical perspective

Walnut Grove in the 1870s.

Read more

Read more

dipper / ladle / skimmer

Used to remove foam when boiling maple sap.

Read more

Read more

“Gentle Words and Loving Smiles”

Hymn 139 in Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

Read more

Read more

“For the Sake o’ Somebody”

1794 Robert Burns poem.

Read more

Read more

bastion

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

Read more

Read more

primer

Used to teach someone to read.

Read more

Read more

America / American

Pertaining to the United States of America.

Read more

Read more

Introspections of an Individualist

Norma Lee Browning article about Rose Wilder Lane.

Read more

Read more

cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

Read more

Read more

Western Reserve

Land in Ohio, given to Connecticut upon agreement to give up claim to lands in Pennsylvania.

Read more

Read more

Charles Lamson

Almanzo’s cousin.

Read more

Read more

Noah’s ark toy

Willie’s toy boat with animals.

Read more

Read more

Doxology

Old Hundred.

Read more

Read more

James McKee family

Homesteader north of Manchester D.T.

Read more

Read more

the children’s blizzard

January 12, 1888, blizzard.

Read more

Read more

Missouri Ruralist

The Missouri Ruralist. A twice-monthly Missouri farm periodical...

Read more

Read more

hatchet

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

Read more

Read more

“All the Blue Bonnets are Over the Border”

1829 Sir Walter Scott air.

Read more

Read more

Martha Perry / Mrs. White

Laura helped her sew shirts.

Read more

Read more

twin lakes

Lake Henry & Lake Thompson

Read more

Read more

sheep sorrel

Tastes like lemon… or springtime?

Read more

Read more

Young Pioneers

David and Molly Beaton.

Read more

Read more

depot / station

Railway station.

Read more

Read more

pullaway

Outdoor tagging game.

Read more

Read more

bacon

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

Read more

Read more

poke bonnet / poke-bonnet

the lining matched Laura’s eyes

Read more

Read more

hulled corn

Hominy.

Read more

Read more

Big Sioux River / Sioux River

SD-IA tributary of Missouri River.

Read more

Read more

spelling / speller

The order of letters in a word. / A book of exercises on the order of letters.

Read more

Read more

cat’s cradle

Game played with string twisted on the fingers.

Read more

Read more

poll

No horns.

Read more

Read more

Mary Power & Edwin Sanford

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

Read more

Read more

J

jabot – Justice of the Peace

Read more

Read more

Great American Desert

Varying area of North America, believed at times to be uninhabitable by civilized man.

Read more

Read more

“Oh Boys, Carry Me Along”

Stephen Foster song.

Read more

Read more

velvet

Silk or blend fabric with short shag surface.

Read more

Read more

Thomas C. Wilkin family

Florence Wilkin’s father.

Read more

Read more

“Money Musk”

Traditional American dance tune.

Read more

Read more

Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

Read more

Read more

F

Fair Grounds – furrow

Read more

Read more

“Paul Revere’s Ride”

Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Read more

Read more

lantern

A light meant to be carried.

Read more

Read more

Marvin Hughitt

Officer and President of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company.

Read more

Read more

Henry Burvee

One of the first settlers in Kingsbury Co.

Read more

Read more

“The Campbells are Coming”

Traditional Scottish jig.

Read more

Read more

spoon holder / spoon-holder / spoonholder

Any vessel used to hold and display spoons.

Read more

Read more

milking-stool

Three legs (the cow has the udder).

Read more

Read more

Ernest & Minnie Green

This is not Mary & Edwin Sanford!

Read more

Read more

Lizzie

the child bride

Read more

Read more

“Polly Wolly Doodle”

Daniel Decatur Emmett song.

Read more

Read more

pieplant

Rhubarb.

Read more

Read more

mustache

Hair above the lip.

Read more

Read more

“Highland Mary”

1799 Robert Burns songs, favorite of Mary Ingalls.

Read more

Read more

prairie danglers

seventhwinter whimsey’s glass slide pendants!

Read more

Read more

“Jerusalem the Golden”

Hymn from Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

Read more

Read more

land office

Where sales of public lands are registered.

Read more

Read more

turntable

Revolving railroad platform.

Read more

Read more

scones

“Mamabess is growing fat.”

Read more

Read more

yoke

Frame worn on the neck for lifting or drawing.

Read more

Read more

“The Blue Juniata”

1841 Marion Dix Sullivan song.

Read more

Read more

“Love’s Old Sweet Song”

1884 song by Bingham & Malloy.

Read more

Read more

Women’s Christian Temperance Union

W.C.T.U.

Read more

Read more

“Down in Alabam'” / “The Old Gray Mare”

1858 J. Warner song.

Read more

Read more

bandana

Large handkerchief with white pattern on red or blue background.

Read more

Read more

door knob

Grab to open a door.

Read more

Read more

Mary Amelia Ingalls

First child of Caroline and Charles Ingalls, 1865-1928; she lost her sight at age 15.

Read more

Read more

“Mountain of the Lord”

Hymn #52, Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Read more

Read more

Henry Hinz

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

Read more

Read more

“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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

dragon-fly / dragonfly

Mosquito hunter.

Read more

Read more

Mr. Clancy / Chauncey Clayson

Drygoods store owner, Chauncey Clayson

Read more

Read more

Minnie Johnson

Laura’s schoolmate in De Smet

Read more

Read more

gaiters

Cloth ankle covering.

Read more

Read more

Thomas P. Power family

De Smet tailor.

Read more

Read more

“Three Blind Mice”

Popular nursery song, sung in rounds.

Read more

Read more

“Merry, Merry Christmas”

Hymn Number 150 in Pure Gold for Sunday Schools.

Read more

Read more

patent / title

official property ownership document

Read more

Read more

roller skates / rink

Wheeled frame for the shoe.

Read more

Read more

Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls

Heather Williams book.

Read more

Read more

Little Town on the Prairie – historical perspective

De Smet D.T. in the 1880s.

Read more

Read more

Mr. Edwards / Edmund Mason

Was he Edmund Mason?

Read more

Read more

post office / post-office

Where you send and receive mail.

Read more

Read more

Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

Read more

Read more

surveyor

One who measures land and delineates the same on paper.

Read more

Read more

“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

Read more

Read more

“Darling Nellie Gray”

1856 Benjamin Hamby song.

Read more

Read more

“Auld Lang Syne”

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

Read more

Read more

bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

Read more

Read more

“Coming Through the Rye”

Robert Burns tune.

Read more