When Laura Ingalls Wilder set out to write about life as homesteaders in early America, she drew heavily from her own real life experiences.
Most fans of the popular TV series Little House on the Prairie knew this as they followed along with the fictionalized version of Laura played by Melissa Gilbert. But do you know how much of Laura's real life made its way onto the screen?
Obviously, her name and family's names stayed the same — and there's no other way she could have written such an accurate portrayal of the struggles real folks dealt with while settling in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The emotional depth she described could only come from actually living through both the hardships and happy times.
Take a look below to learn all of the ways Laura Ingalls Wilder's real life was reflected in her writing and on the popular show.
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Left Thumbnail Photo: YouTube / Little House on the Prairie
1. Her Family Members Were Actually Homesteaders
Laura's family wanted to find land of their own, so they left what is now known as Minnesota to make their way to South Dakota. They moved frequently when land became unavailable.
Their timeline mixed with failure and success is mirrored in the Little House book series. Laura ultimately decided to alter her age a bit and switched up a few of the states they lived in, but it all rang true to her real upbringing.
2. The Ingalls Barely Survived A Brutal Winter
The Ingalls were living in South Dakota during one of the harshest winters in recorded history during 1880. In fact, it wasn't just one blizzard, but multiple ones that hit their home in De Smet during that time.
They came close to starving with extremely limited access to food, all of which is detailed in Laura's book The Long Winter.
3. Her Sister Mary Really Did Go Blind
In real life, Mary Ingalls probably didn't lose her sight because of scarlet fever, according to studies reported on by The New York Times. Unfortunately, had it been scarlet fever, she would have likely only dealt with blindness temporarily.
Instead, research has concluded that the real Mary likely suffered from viral meningoencephalitis, which left her permanently without sight.
4. She Attended A One-Room Schoolhouse
The real Laura didn't have nearly as perfect attendance as her fictional counterpart, though.
The Ingalls family's many moves and the constant need for extra help on the farm meant Laura did most of her academic learning at home.
5. Insects Depleted The Family's Crops
In Laura's book On The Banks of Plum Creek, she describes their farm being attacked by locusts. The book details how terrifying it was to have them take everything and to even cling to the clothes they were wearing, which ultimately inspired the family to move on to another location.
On the TV series, the insect was switched for grasshoppers with an equally distressing effect.
6. She Became A Teacher As A Teen
Laura's homeschooling paid off in real life just like it did on the small screen. She was able to pass the exam to become a teacher at just 15 years old.
She began teaching to help pay for Mary to have special schooling after going blind.
7. She Really Married Alamanzo
Just like on the show, Almanzo was tasked with driving Laura to her teaching job. During their 12-mile weekend carriage trips, the real couple fell in love.
They were married on August 25, 1885.
8. Both Laura And Almanzo Got Diptheria
On the TV show, Manly was the only one afflicted by the real-life couple's joint-cases of diphtheria early in their marriage in 1888.
However, just like they showed on the series, the illness caused Manly to suffer a life-threatening stroke that nearly ended their time together when it had just begun.
9. Her Daughter Probably Helped Write Her Stories
Although it hasn't been officially confirmed, chances are very likely that Rose helped her mother with the process of writing each of her tales from the prairie.
Laura was well into her 60s when the first of the Little House book series was published. Without a formal education, she likely relied on her daughter to help her create such a vivid portrayal of her life.
10. Her Family Lost Everything In The Stock Market Crash
When Laura and her family were hit by hard times during the Great Depression, Rose encouraged her mother to share her life stories in a series of children's books.
Rose had connections in the publishing industry, and the success of the series helped the Wilders earn back some of what they lost.
Were you surprised by any of the real stories from Laura's life-inspired scenes on the beloved series?
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