Almanzo James Wilder (February 13, 1857? – October 23, 1949) was an American farmer best known as the husband of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the father of Rose Wilder Lane, both of whom became celebrated authors.
Biography
Early Life
Almanzo Wilder was reportedly born on February 13, 1857, at the Wilder Homestead in rural Burke, near Malone, New York. He was the fifth of six children born to James Mason Wilder and Angelina Albina Day, who were farmers. His siblings were Laura Ann, Royal Gould, Eliza Jane, Alice Maria, and Perley Day Wilder. Laura Ingalls Wilder later wrote Farmer Boy, a book in her “Little House” series that depicted Almanzo’s childhood in upstate New York. In this series, Almanzo also appears as a recurring character in the books The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. He is portrayed as a hardworking, courageous man with a deep love for horses and farming. He is also noted for his skills as a carpenter and woodworker.
Farmer Boy narrates Almanzo’s childhood experiences, beginning just before his ninth birthday in 1866. The book covers his early education, learning to train and drive a team of oxen, attending a county fair, and celebrating a mid-19th-century Fourth of July in Malone. It also describes his interactions with his older siblings, especially his strong-willed sister, Eliza Jane, who would later become a teacher to his future wife, Laura Ingalls.
Moving West
In 1870, the Wilder family left Burke, New York, due to crop failures and moved west to Spring Valley, Minnesota, where they started a new farm. In 1879, Almanzo and his siblings Royal and Eliza Jane moved to the Dakota Territory and claimed land near what would become De Smet, South Dakota. Here, Almanzo began cultivating wheat on his homestead, which he had prepared the previous summer in Marshall, Minnesota. In De Smet, he first met Laura Ingalls, whose family was among the early settlers in the area.
Almanzo plays a heroic role in Laura’s book The Long Winter. Along with Ed “Cap” Garland, he braves dangerous winter conditions to save the town of De Smet from starvation during the harsh winter of 1880-1881. They embarked on a perilous journey across the prairie to procure wheat from a distant farmer, which they successfully transported back just before another blizzard hit.
Marriage to Laura Ingalls
Almanzo began courting Laura Ingalls when he was about 25 and she was 15. He often drove her between De Smet and a new settlement 12 miles away, where she taught. Their courtship continued with long buggy rides in the spring, and they married on August 25, 1885, in De Smet. After marriage, they settled on Almanzo’s claim and started a small farm. Their daughter, Rose Wilder, was born on December 5, 1886, and became a well-known writer and political philosopher.
The early years of their marriage, as detailed in The First Four Years, were marked by numerous hardships, including bad weather, illness, and financial troubles. In 1888, both Almanzo and Laura contracted diphtheria. Although they survived, Almanzo suffered from neuritis, a complication that temporarily paralyzed parts of his legs and left him needing a cane to walk. The economic difficulties of wheat farming in South Dakota, combined with a severe drought, led to further financial strain.
In 1889, tragedy struck the Wilder family. In early August, Laura gave birth to a son, who died two weeks later. The loss of their infant son, coupled with a house fire and crop failures due to drought, marked a turning point for the Wilders. They returned to Spring Valley, Minnesota, to recover at Almanzo’s parents’ farm. Seeking a more favorable climate, they later relocated to Westville, Florida, but ultimately returned to De Smet in 1892 due to Laura’s dislike of the Florida environment.
Back in De Smet, the Wilders rented a small house in town and worked various jobs to save money. Laura worked as a seamstress, while Almanzo took up carpentry and day labor. They practiced frugality and slowly built up their savings.
Settling in Missouri and Later Years
On July 17, 1894, the Wilders left De Smet and journeyed by covered wagon to the Ozarks of Missouri, inspired by stories of fertile land known as “The Land of the Big Red Apple.” They arrived near Mansfield, Missouri, on August 31 and purchased 40 acres of land named “Rocky Ridge Farm.” Over the next two decades, Almanzo built Laura her dream home, a unique 10-room house with custom features to accommodate her height.
Rocky Ridge Farm comprised around 200 acres and became a successful poultry, dairy, and fruit farm. Almanzo indulged his love of Morgan horses and managed a sizable herd of cows and goats. The Wilders adopted a diversified farming approach better suited to the Ozarks’ climate, contrasting their earlier experiences with wheat farming in South Dakota.
Although the royalties from Laura’s “Little House” books eventually provided financial stability, the Wilders’ daughter, Rose, helped support them until the mid-1930s. The couple continued to improve their farm and enjoy a secure income in their later years.
Almanzo learned to drive a car, which allowed the couple to travel more freely. They took extended trips to places like California, the Pacific Northwest, and South Dakota to visit family. After their daughter moved to Connecticut around 1937, Almanzo and Laura returned to their farmhouse, eventually selling off part of their land.
In his final years, Almanzo enjoyed gardening, woodworking, and spending time with his animals. He also welcomed visitors to the famous “Little House” homestead. Almanzo Wilder passed away on October 23, 1949, after suffering two heart attacks. Laura Ingalls Wilder died eight years later, on February 10, 1957. Their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, lived until 1968. All three are buried in Mansfield, Missouri, and many of Almanzo’s items and handiwork can still be seen at Rocky Ridge Farm, now the Laura Ingalls Wilder/Rose Wilder Lane Museum.
Legacy
Almanzo Wilder is remembered as a quiet, hardworking man who exemplified the pioneer spirit of his time. His love for farming, horses, and rural life is well documented in the writings of his wife and daughter. His legacy continues through the “Little House” series and the museum at Rocky Ridge Farm.
In the Media
Books
Laura Ingalls Wilder’s novel Farmer Boy, published in 1933, offers a largely fictionalized account of a year in Almanzo’s childhood. In 2012, Heather Williams wrote Farmer Boy Goes West, a further fictionalized book about Almanzo’s early life.
Television
Almanzo Wilder has been portrayed in various adaptations of Little House on the Prairie:
- Dean Butler played him in the original TV series Little House on the Prairie and its movie sequels.
- Walton Goggins portrayed him in Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
