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The Missouri Ruralist

Twice monthly Missouri farm periodical.

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hatchet

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

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“Marching Through Georgia”

Union song from American Civil War.

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Becky Newhall / Rebecca Stewart

Classmate of Laura Ingalls in De Smet.

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The Long Winter – historical perspective

The Hard Winter of 1880-1881.

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“America”

1832 Reverend Samuel F. Smith song.

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Almanzo Wilder

The Man of the Place

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“Buy a Broom”

O Du Leiber Augustin.

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door knob

Grab to open a door.

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“The Pied Piper”

Robert Browning poem.

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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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copperplate

Variable-width handwriting script made with a flexible, pointed nib.

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“Great is the Lord”

Singing school song from The Conqueror.

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Lost, between sunrise and sunset…

Horace Mann quotation from his Writings, published in 1872.

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Grace Pearl Ingalls

Youngest sister of Laura Ingalls; she lived 1877-1941.

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mantel-shelf

Shelf above a fireplace.

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certificate

Written testimony of fact.

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Reverend Edwin H. Alden

Walnut Grove Congregational minister and missionary in Dakota.

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St. Lawrence River

A streak of silver on the horizon.

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Henry J. Stebbins

Railroad contractor who inspired a song.

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whalebone

Baleen used in corsets.

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bobolink

On Mary Power’s name card.

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“Oft in the Stilly Night”

Song from Lalla Rookh.

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velvet

Silk or blend fabric with short shag surface.

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emigrant car

Railroad car used to move a settler and/or a settler’s goods.

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The Advance

Weekly family newspaper of the Congregational church.

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winnow

Drive off chaff by wind.

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Will Barnes

Walnut Grove acquaintance of the Ingallses’ in the 1870s....

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twilight

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

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A Modern Musketeer

In which Rose becomes a great actress.

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leap frog / leap-frog

Run and jump game.

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Little House in the Big Woods – historical perspective

Pepin Twp., Pepin Co. Wisconsin

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“The Whip-Poor-Will’s Song”

1865 Harrison Millard song.

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Jack Frost

A popular personification of frost.

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Thomas H. Ruth

President of Kingsbury County Bank in De Smet.

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braid / plait

Entwined strands.

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Charles Mead

Proprietor of the Exchange Hotel in De Smet, 1880-1882.

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pork-pickle

Salt and sugar pork brine.

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Little House on the Prairie – the fictional story

The Ingallses in Indian Territory.

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“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary”

1912 Judge & Williams song.

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ante-over / anti-over / anteover

Game in which a ball is thrown over a structure.

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buttonhook

Curved metal tool for fastening shoes.

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“The Lotos Eaters”

Tennyson poem.

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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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census taker

Statistical registration of members of a country.

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spider

Legged cooking vessel.

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blueing bag

Whiter whites.

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powder horn / powder-horn

Animal horn in which gunpowder is carried.

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Willard Seelye

De Smet teacher, 1881-1882.

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Chicago Inter-Ocean / Inter-Ocean

Republican political newspaper.

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William H. Steadman family

Proprietor of hotel in Burr Oak.

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Godey’s Lady’s Book

Women’s magazine, 1830-1898.

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Eskimo / igloo

Tribes of arctic America and Greenland. / Snow hut.

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fanning-mill

Machine for winnowing.

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Young Pioneers

David and Molly Beaton.

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New Ulm, Minnesota

Town in Brown Co., MN.

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Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…

From Robert Herrick poem.

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Hill-Billy

1926 Rose Wilder Lane book.

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antelope

Antilocapra cervicapra of North America.

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Burke / Malone during the Little House years

Almanzo Wilder birthplace.

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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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swan

Cygnus Americanus

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Alice Maria Wilder

Older sister and playmate of Almanzo Wilder. She lived 1853-1892.

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claim shanty

Temporary dwelling.

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The Floweret

1842 book of verse by Anna Maria Wells.

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bake oven / bake-oven

Coals on top and below.

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Bibliography

LIW / RWL books & articles

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willow

Tree of the genus Salix.

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Minnie Johnson

Laura’s schoolmate in De Smet

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Pure Gold for the Sunday School

Hymnal owned by the Ingalls family.

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button lamp

Improvised grease lamp.

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“Dakota Land”

1876 hymn, Beulah Land.

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“When I Can Read My Title Clear”

1700s Isaac Watts hymn.

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bangs / lunatic fringe

hair across the forehead

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killdeer

Small aquatic bird.

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Laura Speaks

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

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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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cornice

Roof overhang.

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Come Into the Garden, Maud

1855 poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.

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The New York Ledger

Weekly story paper, published 1855-1898.

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Mansfield history

Town in Wright County, Missouri.

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candy hearts

Mary’s had a candy poem on it!

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“The Silver Moon”

Sail on, silver moon…

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writ of attachment

Legal document requiring action.

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“A Life on the Ocean Wave”

1847 Epes Sargent poem put to music.

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“Old Folks at Home”

Way down upon the Swanee River!

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hardtack

Unleavened hard bread made from flour and water.

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“My Old Kentucky Home”

1853 Stephen Foster song.

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Millbank

1871 novel by Mary Jane Holmes.

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Sale of School Lands on the Osage Diminished Reserve

LHOP cabin was on Section 36

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

1858 J. Warner song.

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tableland

Elevated flat land; a plateau.

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snow-fort

“Holler ’nuff!”

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Army bugle

Brass military horn.

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Frank Schaub

Early harness maker in De Smet.

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“nervous as a witch”

restless

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“yell like a Comanche”

Imitated Indian battle cry.

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Amos Whiting family

Superintendent of Schools, De Smet.

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axle grease

Lubricant for wagon wheels and other machinery.

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morning-glory

Climbing plant of the genus Ipomœa.

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land office

Where sales of public lands are registered.

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Noah’s ark toy

Willie’s toy boat with animals.

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“What Shall the Harvest Be?”

1850 Emily Oakley poem.

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tattoo

Sounds like beating drums!

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The House that Jack Built

…for two pieces of money.

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tiger lily

Native spotted flower of tallgrass prairie.

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carved wooden bracket

Place for a china shepherdess.

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Charles H. Tinkham

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

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worm / angleworm

common soil worm

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ambition

Act of obtaining an object of desire.

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kerosene / kerosine

Oil used for lighting.

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Burr Oak today

Only Ingalls home in original location.

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“The Rock of Ages”

Painting at Rev. Brown’s.

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Bloody Benders

Serial killers in 1870s Kansas.

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cottonwood tree

Wetland plains tree, Populus fremontii.

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photographs

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

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“Lend a Helping Hand”

Hymn #22, Pure Gold for Sunday School.

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mustache

Hair above the lip.

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Arthur Sherwood

Brother of Carter Sherwood.

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vanity cakes

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

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roller towel

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

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“Nellie was a Lady”

Pa would play some of the old songs, ‘to go to sleep...

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Belgian horse

A heavy draft horse originally from the Brabant region of...

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cottage cheese

Curdled skim milk.

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Henry O. Quiner family

Ma’s brother, married to Pa’s sister Polly.

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“Sing a Song of Sixpence”

Mother Goose rhyme.

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china shepherdess / little china woman

Ingalls precious family figurine.

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twine

A strong twisted thread.

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udder

Where the milk is before milking.

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“Here’s to the Maiden”

1780 R.B. Sheridan drinking song.

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wigwam

What Almanzo’s shocked oats looked like.

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A Tribute to the Early Day Teachers

Neva Whaley Harding tribute.

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“Keep the Horse Shoe Over the Door”

1880 Joseph Skelley song.

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Little House Songs

Prairie Song Companion

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Alfred N. Waters

Attorney and land agent in De Smet.

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Ven Owen

Teacher and principal of the first graded school in De Smet

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“De Boatmen’s Dance”

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

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De Smet today

Where I would like to be right now.

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“Coming Through the Rye”

Robert Burns tune.

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“Irish Washerwoman”

Traditional Scottish and Irish song/dance song.

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velocipede

Carriage propelled by pedals or feet.

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bear grease

Bear fat hair dressing.

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mother-of-pearl

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

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forfeits

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

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“The Burial of Sir John Moore”

1817 poem by Charles Wolfe.

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Freddy Ingalls

Laura’s brother (1875-1876)

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John D. Peirson

Early De Smet liveryman.

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shoe pegs

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

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Laura’s Sorosis Club speech

“My Work”

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buffalo beans

Prairie ground plum.

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chilblain

Cold sores on hands and feet.

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“Jerusalem the Golden”

Hymn from Pure Gold for the Sunday School.

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water alcove

Railroad car water for drinking.

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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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“Oh Boys, Carry Me Along”

Stephen Foster song.

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pieplant

Rhubarb.

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“Buffalo Gals”

1844 Virginia Minstrels song.

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Lizzie

the child bride

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copper

Cu

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Edward H. Couse

Early hardware store owner in De Smet.

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peddler’s cart / wagon

A little store on wheels.

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Mary Amelia Ingalls

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

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Mr. Edwards / Edmund Mason

Was he Edmund Mason?

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watermelon-rind preserves

sugary jelly

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“Give us this day our daily bread”

“The City, a Mc Kee plain glassware pattern.

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President James Madison

4th President of the U.S.

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bacon

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

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The Youth’s Companion

Weekly instructional magazine for children, first published in 1827.

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“The Swan’s Nest”

Elizabeth Barrett Browning poem.

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composition

The act of forming a written piece.

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milk pan / milk-pan / milkpan

Where cream rises.

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Charles Ingalls: The Civil War Years

Charles Ingalls: the Civil War Years

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Governor of Orleans / The American Remount Association

Registered stallion leased to Almanzo Wilder 1923-1925.

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Marvin Hughitt

Officer and President of the Chicago & NorthWestern Railway Company.

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Congress

Legislative body of a country.

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barrel

Round vessel or cask made of wooden staves.

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James Glover family

Students in the Wilkin School.

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handcar

Don’t be left behind!

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blacking / stove-blacking / boot blacking

Preparation used to make things black.

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dickcissel / dickie-bird

A semi-nomadic finch, Spiza americana.

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freeze drying

sublimation!

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saleratus / soda

Leavening agents used in baking.

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swimming hole

Watch out for ankle grabbers!

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Hamlin Garland

…and his first Christmas tree!

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button

who’s got one?

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Will Bennett

One of the younger De Smet schoolboys.

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mosquito bar / netting

Woven cloth bug barrier.

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“The Star-Spangled Banner”

Our National Anthem; words by Francis Scott Key.

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yoke

Frame worn on the neck for lifting or drawing.

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Delos Perry family

The Perry School was on his homestead.

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“The Sleighing Glee”

Singing school song.

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By the Shores of Silver Lake – the fictional story

The railroad comes to Dakota.

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Caroline Ingalls

Mother of Laura Ingalls. She lived 1839-1924.

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“all’s well that ends well”

A proverb.

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xanthophyll

I bet you can spell this word.

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“To a Girl”

Poem used to describe Beatrice Sorchan.

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Eliza Jane Wilder

Almanzo’s sister.

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apprentice

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

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Indian camps

Look! Beads!

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Great American Desert

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

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