(1867–1957). Many of the images people have of pioneer life in the United States come from the books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her famous “Little House” series is based on her own childhood on the American frontier.

Early life

Laura Elizabeth Ingalls was born on February 7, 1867, in Pepin, Wisconsin. Laura was the second of four girls. (Her only brother died before his first birthday.) The Ingalls family moved several times from one part of the American frontier to another. They traveled by covered wagon to Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), and Dakota Territory (now North Dakota and South Dakota). The girls attended several different schools.

The family faced many problems during their journeys. Some of the hardships included conflicts with Native Americans, a grasshopper plague that destroyed their crops, and harsh winters with few supplies.

Career

At age 15 Laura began teaching in country schools to help support the family. Many of the students were almost her age. In 1885 she married Almanzo J. Wilder. The Wilders had a difficult time during their early years of marriage. Their infant son died, their house was destroyed by fire, and Almanzo suffered from the disease diphtheria.

In 1894 the Wilders settled in Mansfield, Missouri. In about 1911 Wilder began writing articles for various magazines. She also got involved with many community projects and founded an association that helped farmers get loans.

The Wilders' only daughter, Rose, used to like hearing stories about her mother's youth. When Rose became an adult, she asked her mother to write down these tales of growing up during the 1870s and 1880s. The first book in what became the “Little House” series, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932. The rest of the books in the series are Little House on the Prairie (1935), On the Banks of Plum Creek (1937), By the Shores of Silver Lake (1939), Little Town on the Prairie (1941), and These Happy Golden Years (1943). The “Little House” books became some of the most popular in children's literature.

Lasting influence

The American Library Association honored Wilder in 1954 by creating the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. The award is given every three years to a U.S. author or illustrator who has made a lasting contribution to children's literature.

Wilder died in Mansfield on February 10, 1957, after having a stroke. Since then libraries, schools, and roads have been named in her honor. The television series Little House on the Prairie, based on her books, aired from 1974 to 1983.