Laura Ingalls Wilder

created by Tracy Vana

Laura Elizabeth Wilder was born on February 7, 1867 in a log house in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to Charles and Caroline Wilder. Laura became their second daughter and little sister to Mary. When Laura was a baby, the family moved to Chariton County, Missouri. Due to many hardships, the family continued to move to many states, including Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota. Some of the hardships the family encounter were blizzards, grasshoppers destroying the crops, and being forced out of their home.

During the fall of 1870, the Ingalls were granted a third daughter, Carrie. On November 1, 1875, Laura finally received a brother, Freddy. Freddy became ill and died nine months later. Laura's sister, Mary suffered a stroke and lost her eyesight. The Ingalls gave birth to their last child, Grace, on May 23, 1877.

At age 15, Laura received her teaching certificate and worked at Bouchie School. She lived with the Bouchie Family. Mrs. Bouchie would frighten Laura because she was going through a mental breakdown. Therefore, Laura met a local farmer, Almanzo Wilder, who drove her home on the weekends. Eventually, Almanzo and Laura married on August 25, 1885. However, Laura fabricated Almanzo's age in her books. In real life, Almanzo was ten years older that she stated.

Laura gave birth to a daughter, Rose, on December 5, 1886. Later, she gave birth to an unnamed boy, who died shortly after his birth in August of 1889.

Laura would tell her stories of pioneer life to her daughter, Rose. Rose was so impressed and fascinated by her mother's stories that she convinced her mother to write them down. Laura wrote her first book, Pioneer Girl, in 1930. The book was rejected by publishers, so she revised a section for the book and called it Little House in the Big Woods. At age 65, Little House in the Big Woods was published. It became a huge success, so Laura continues to write more books that entertained children everywhere.

Laura died on February 10, 1957 in the Ozarks of Missouri. Her life may be lost, but her legacy will always remain in the heart of many children and adults, who treasure the gifts she's given to us.

List of Books

Little House in the Big Woods, 1932

Farmer Boy, 1933

Little House on the Prairie, 1935

On the Banks of Plum Creek, 1937

By the Shores of Silver Lake, 1939

The Long Winter, 1940

Little Town on the Prairie, 1941

These Happy Golden Years, 1943

On the Way Home, 1962

The First Four Years, 1971

West From Home, 1974

Laura Ingalls Wilder Links