On this day in the years 1836 and 1865, two of author Laura Ingalls Wilder’s most beloved “Little House on the Prairie” characters were born, Papa Wilder and her older sister, Mary (right).
Wilder’s father, Charles Ingalls, was the second of nine children descended from two prominent New England families. It was the Ingalls’ move from New York to Illinois when Charles was young that fueled his love for wide open spaces and set in motion the frontier saga captured in Wilder’s books.
Marrying Caroline Quiner, a proper young school teacher from down the road, George’s wanderlust and the couple’s five children, Mary, Laura, Carrie, Charles Frederick “Freddie” and Grace were all the material needed to inspire the first eight original “Little House” books. (Above, Caroline and George)
The family’s trek through six states began in 1869. Laura was just two and Mary, age four when they moved from the Big Woods of Wisconsin (Below, reconstructed Big Woods home) briefly to Missouri and then to southeastern 
Kansas where Ingalls mistakenly settled on land that was part of the Osage Reservation. They returned to Wisconsin for four years before their 1874 move to Walnut Grove, Minnesota. It was the setting for some of the best known “Little House” books. The couple’s only son, little Freddie was born in Walnut Grove in 1875 but died just nine months later.
Next stop was Lake City, Minnesota before returning to Walnut Grove and then to Burr Oak, Iowa, where the couple helped run a hotel.
But it was back to Walnut Grove for the third time where “Pa” was the town butcher and Justice of the Peace and where yet another tragedy befell the family. Daughter Mary, age 14, was left blind, presumably by scarlet fever. (Above, Carrie, Laura and Mary)
When a job with the railroad took Charles to Dakota Territory in the Spring of 1879, he convinced Caroline to join him that Fall in DeSmet, South Dakota, with the promise they would finally stay put. (Above, house in DeSmet)
Good to his word, Charles managed to curb his “itchy foot,” living the remainder of his life in DeSmet, frequently changing jobs instead of addresses. He farmed for a time, served as DeSmet’s Justice of the Peace and a deputy sheriff before becoming a shop keeper and finally an insurance salesman.
Mary attended the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton during the family’s early years in South Dakota, but returned home to DeSmet in 1889 following her graduation.
Charles Ingalls died June 8, 1902 at the age of 66 and is buried in DeSmet as is Mary. She died October 20, 1928 at the age of 63.
The many Little House books are not chronologically accurate but Wilder (right) provides a record, albeit romanticized, of pioneer life in early Midwest America. The heartwarming tales of the wondering Ingalls created a million dollar publishing, entertainment and merchandising industry as well as a half-dozen local museums and tourist sites. Wilder pageants are presented every summer in both Walnut Grove, Minnesota and DeSmet, South Dakota.
The Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum, 330 8th St., Walnut Grove, Minn, is housed in several vintage buildings including an 1898 depot, a chapel, a little red schoolhouse and covered wagon. The collections include memorabilia from the various stars of the series, historic documents, letters and items from the Wilder family.
It’s open April through October, Monday through Friday. Summer hours during June, July and August are 10 to 6 daily. Hours in April, 10 to 4 
Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 Sunday and 10 to 5. In May, September and October hours are 10 to 4, Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults, $4 for youth 5 to 12, under 5 free. For more information go to walnutgrove.org/museum, e-mail lauramuseum@walnutgrove.org, or call 800-528-7280.
The Wilder Pageant, presented annually three weekends, July 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 2018, is an outdoor drama on the banks of Plum Creek based on the Ingalls family while in Walnut Grove. The hillside amphitheater is equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting and the live performance features Walnut Grove area residents. Gates open at 7 each evening. Reserve admission, $20 per person, general admission, $18. Pageant information is available at walnutgrove.org and call 888-859-3102 for tickets.
The Ingalls Homestead, 20812 Homestead Rd., outside De Smet, includes a 
visitor center, exhibits, a Ma’s flower garden and covered wagon rides. Open May 26 to September 3 daily from 9 to 7 and Daily 9 to 5 during September and October, weather permitting. For more information got to ingallshomestead.com or call 800-776-3594 of (605) 854-3984.
“The Happy Golden Years” pageant in DeSmet, S.D. July 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 2018, is presented on a site between the Ingalls farmstead and Silver Lake which was purchased by the Laura Ingalls Wilder Society. It became the event’s permanent home. Gates open at 6 each evening and all tickets are general admission; $12, adults, $8 for youth 6 to 12, 5 and under free. For more information go to desmetpageant.org, call 800-776-3594 or 800-880-3383 for ticket information or e-mail desmetpageant@gmail.com.
© Text Only – 2017 – Headin’ West LLC – All photos – public domain or fair use.