Overview of Her Life & Work
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder (February 7, 1867 – February 10, 1957) was a notable American author best known for her “Little House” series of children’s books. These books, published between 1932 and 1943, are based on Wilder’s experiences growing up in a settler and pioneer family during the late 19th century.
The popular television series Little House on the Prairie (1974–1983), featuring Melissa Gilbert as Laura and Michael Landon as her father, Charles Ingalls, was loosely adapted from Wilder’s books, bringing her stories of pioneer life to a new generation.
Birth and Ancestry
Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born on February 7, 1867, to Charles Phillip Ingalls and Caroline Lake Quiner Ingalls near Pepin, Wisconsin, in the region known as the Big Woods. This location would later be the backdrop for her first book, Little House in the Big Woods (1932). Laura was the second of five children in the Ingalls family, which included her siblings Mary Amelia, Caroline Celestia (Carrie), Charles Frederick (who passed away in infancy), and Grace Pearl. Today, a replica of the Ingalls’ log cabin stands at the Little House Wayside in Pepin, commemorating Laura’s birthplace.
Early Life and Moves
At age two, Laura moved with her family from Wisconsin to Kansas, near what is now Independence. The Ingalls family briefly settled in this area, believing it was open to white settlers, only to find they were on Osage Indian land without legal rights to their homestead. Facing rumors of possible eviction and needing to recover their Wisconsin property, they returned to Wisconsin in 1871. These early experiences formed the foundation for Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods and the opening chapters of Little House on the Prairie.
By 1874, as depicted in On the Banks of Plum Creek (1939), the Ingalls family had relocated to Walnut Grove, Minnesota, where they lived in a dugout home on Plum Creek’s banks. After a series of crop failures, the family moved again, this time to Burr Oak, Iowa, where they managed a hotel and where the youngest Ingalls child, Grace, was born.
Life in Dakota Territory and Teaching Career
In 1879, Charles Ingalls took a railroad job that brought the family to the Dakota Territory, settling in De Smet, South Dakota. De Smet became the Ingalls’ long-term home and the setting for several of Wilder’s books. Here, Laura attended school, worked various jobs, and met her future husband, Almanzo Wilder.
At just 15, Laura began her teaching career to help support her family despite her dislike for the profession. She taught in several one-room schools while continuing her education. This period of her life is detailed in Little Town on the Prairie (1941) and These Happy Golden Years (1943).
Marriage and Challenges
Laura married Almanzo Wilder on August 25, 1885, in De Smet. The couple faced numerous hardships early in their marriage, including Almanzo’s partial paralysis from diphtheria, the death of their newborn son, and a series of natural disasters and personal setbacks that left them financially strained. These challenges are vividly recounted in Wilder’s posthumously published book, The First Four Years (1971).
Move to Missouri and Writing Career
In 1894, seeking a fresh start, the Wilders moved to Mansfield, Missouri, where they established Rocky Ridge Farm. Initially living in a small cabin and struggling to make ends meet, they gradually transformed the property into a successful poultry, dairy, and fruit farm. Laura became a regular contributor to the Missouri Ruralist, sharing her insights on farming and rural life, which marked the beginning of her writing career.
Encouraged by her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, an accomplished writer, Laura began writing down her childhood memories. Her initial manuscript, Pioneer Girl, was reworked into a series for children, starting with Little House in the Big Woods. The success of this book led to a series that has become a cornerstone of American children’s literature, celebrating the pioneer spirit and life on the American frontier.
Legacy and Later Life
Wilder continued writing until her death on February 10, 1957, at 90. Her works have remained in print, translated into numerous languages, and continue to captivate readers worldwide. The Little House books have inspired various adaptations, including television shows and stage productions, contributing to Wilder’s lasting legacy as a beloved chronicler of frontier life.
Her life and works are commemorated at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home & Museum in Mansfield, Missouri. The museum preserves Rocky Ridge Farm and pays tribute to her enduring contribution to American literature.
