Well, I got your attention to this point. :p
I know how this board works. It's a little slacking. But I do have a question about an episode. Hopefully I'll get a response unlike my "Home Again" question. ;)

The episode where Charles Jr. gets ill and dies. I haven't seen that episode in years. What does he die from? (Or at least, what does the doctor say?) How does the show's version compare to their real life boy who died? Was it accurate?

Originally posted by Cashodeen
Well, I got your attention to this point. :p
I know how this board works. It's a little slacking. But I do have a question about an episode. Hopefully I'll get a response unlike my "Home Again" question. ;)

The episode where Charles Jr. gets ill and dies. I haven't seen that episode in years. What does he die from? (Or at least, what does the doctor say?) How does the show's version compare to their real life boy who died? Was it accurate?


None of Laura's books mention this incident. But I have read that the baby was born in Walnut Grove. The Ingall's family moved to Burr Oak Iowa to help run a hotel when the baby was 9 months old. On the way to Iowa they stopped to visit relatives in eastern Minnesota and the baby diied and was buried there. Then they went on to Iowa and lived for 2 years. Grace was born there. Then they moved back to Walnut Grove. During this last move , that's when Mary went blind. After a couple of years there they moved to De Smet, South Dakota. (their last move) I don't know how the baby died. But Laura didn't include this in her books because she felt that it would be too sad and depressing for her young readers.
I have read extensively all the material I could get a hold of about the Ingalls. If you have any more questions I'll try to answer them for you!;)

Thanks again, Penny Lane. You have a wealth of knowledge on this LH/19th century info. :) I just recently went to jumptheshark.com and there was a post about the babies illness on the show, saying it wasn't realistic for the doctor to say his white count was low. I don't remember the episode well so I don't know exactly what was said, but I thought doctors could probably do simple blood tests like that back then.

Ok, here is an excerpt from the book Laura Ingalls Wilder by William Anderson........................



"Through the long summer days,Laura worried about Baby Freddie.he was nine months old and sickly.Pa and Ma were so concerned that they had a doctor come to examine the baby.The weeks were shadowed by his illness. Laura remembered the "awful day"; it was August 27 1876, when Freddie "straightened out his little body and was dead."He was buried on Uncle Peter's farm. These were sad days because they had to leave him behind.

Nothing is said what exactly he died from. Maybe a weak heart or lungs . Not much could have been done for that kind of thing in those days.

There are several books other than the Little House Series(which are excellent!) that delve deeper and into more detail about Laura's life and the people she wrote about.I find them very interesting. I think I have all of them! Got them all through Amazon.com:D

Thank you for the excerpt. I gotta check out Amazon.com for some books. And I never have yet gotten around to reading ANY of LIW's books so I have to get those too!

Originally posted by Penny Lane
Nothing is said what exactly he died from. Maybe a weak heart or lungs . Not much could have been done for that kind of thing in those days.

Okay, you're talking about the real life Charles Jr. there, right? I was also curious if the show said anything specficially. That episode should be on a local station here soon, so then I will be able to see what that person from jumptheshark was talking about.

I got a couple of questions concerning the real life Ingalls family in contrast to the show:

1. I am looking for any information on Isaiah Edwards, or the charactor that he was based on. There is very little information avaliable about him.

2. The Oleson's were based on the real-life family, The Owens. Is there any additional information about The Owens? I do know that, like the Olesons' Mr. Owen owned a mercantile.

3. What about the main schoolteacher Ms. Beetle? Was that a real person in Laura's life? Did Laura actually become a teacher?

(I like the "Troublemaker" episode with the mean teacher Mr. Applewood--(superbly played by the late Richard Basehart) I wonder if this was based on a real experience?)

Any other tidbits of information would be great!

Jack

Laura Ingalls Wilder



U.S. children's author. Born in Lake Pepin, Wis., she led the pioneer life with her family, living in Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and S. Dakota, where she married. With her husband she finally settled in Missouri, where she edited the Missouri Ruralist for 12 years before being encouraged by her daughter to write down her childhood memories, and the internationally popular Little House books (1932-1943), eight (or nine) in all, were the result.

Almanzo is her husbands name and thats probley where she got the idea for Ms. Beetles brothers name



Originally posted by nantucket_wings
Laura Ingalls Wilder



U.S. children's author. Born in Lake Pepin, Wis., she led the pioneer life with her family, living in Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, and S. Dakota, where she married. With her husband she finally settled in Missouri, where she edited the Missouri Ruralist for 12 years before being encouraged by her daughter to write down her childhood memories, and the internationally popular Little House books (1932-1943), eight (or nine) in all, were the result.

Charles Jr in the little house series died from leukemia ...... Charles Frederick Ingalls Jr., better known as Freddie, was the fourth child and only son of Charles and Caroline Ingalls and was born November 1, 1875 in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. When he was nine months old, the baby began to lose weight, and despite a doctor being called, Baby Freddie died on August 27, 1876.




Charles Phillip Ingalls - "Pa"


In Cuba, New York, on January 10, 1836, Charles Phillip Ingalls was born to Landsford and Laura Ingalls. Lansford and Laura are better known as "Grandpa" and "Grandma" in Little House in the Big Woods as well as some of the My First Little House Books.

On February 1, 1860, Charles married Caroline Lake Quiner in Concord, Wisconsin. They had five children, Mary, Laura, Carrie, Charles Frederick, and Grace. Pa always wanted to go out west, but Ma insisted that they at least stay somewhere where the girls could attend school. They travelled a great deal before finally settling in De Smet, South Dakota where he held many jobs, including Justice of the Peace.

Pa died in De Smet on June 8, 1902, leaving his wife and daughters. Pa's memory lives on through his wonderful stories in the Little House books, and with his wonderful fiddle music, which often filled the hearts of the Ingalls on hot summer evenings and cold winter nights.

Many of Pa's possessions are at the many historic sights, and his beloved fiddle is on display at the Mansfield Museum



Caroline Lake Quiner - "Ma"

In Brookfield, Wisconsin, Caroline Lake Quiner was born to Henry and Charlotte Quiner on December 12, 1839. When she was just seven years old, her father died, and it is during this period where the new Little House series The Early Years takes place with the first book Little House in Brookfield. Three years after Henry died, Caroline's mother remarried to Frederick Holbrook.

Caroline taught two terms of school when she was only sixteen years old, until she married on February 1, 1860, to Charles Phillip Ingalls in Concord, Wisconsin. They had five children, Mary, Laura, Carrie, Charles Frederick, and Grace.

Ma was always kind and gentle, and always full of wisdom for her daughters to follow. It was Ma who insisted that Pa stay somewhere where the girls could attend school. They travelled a great deal before finally settling in De Smet, South Dakota. When her husband died, she continued to live in De Smet with her eldest daughter Mary. She died on April 20, 1924.

Many of her possesions are at the various sites.




















The Real Life Charles and Caroline Ingalls

http://vvv.com/~jenslegg/mapa.jpg





Originally posted by Cashodeen
Well, I got your attention to this point. :p
I know how this board works. It's a little slacking. But I do have a question about an episode. Hopefully I'll get a response unlike my "Home Again" question. ;)

The episode where Charles Jr. gets ill and dies. I haven't seen that episode in years. What does he die from? (Or at least, what does the doctor say?) How does the show's version compare to their real life boy who died? Was it accurate?

Mary Amelia Ingalls



Mary Amelia Ingalls was the first child of Charles and Caroline Ingalls and was born on January 10, 1865, in Pepin, Wisconsin. Mary was a character in all of the Little House books and Mary and Laura were inseperable.

When Mary was fourteen years old, she became severely ill. Her illness, which is variously described as scarlet fever (in the books) and meningitis, resulted in a stroke which caused Mary to go blind. Laura then became Mary's "eyes", describing everything around them to her sister.
In 1881, the Dakota Territory paid for Mary to attend the Iowa School for the Blind in Vinton, Iowa (know known as the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School). She graduated in 1889, and returned to De Smet, South Dakota to live with her parents. Like most blind women of the time, Mary never married, and lived with her parents until their deaths. Mary then lived with Grace and her husband. In Keystone South Dakota, Mary died on October 17, 1928 at the home of her younger sister Carrie.

Some of Mary's beadwork, as well as her special Braille slate and bible are housed at the Manfield Museum while many of her other possessions are housed at De Smet.



Caroline 'Carrie' Celestia Ingalls


Caroline Celestia Ingalls, or better known as Carrie, was the third child of Charles and Caroline Ingalls and was born on August 3, 1870, in Montgomery County, Kansas. Carrie was actually born during the events which occured in Little House on the Prairie. Because Little House in the Big Woods had Baby Carrie, and Little House on the Prairie happened after, Laura could not write around this fact. So Carrie travels with the family to Kansas, even though technically she would not have been born yet.

It is not until the books are based in De Smet, South Dakota, that interaction between Carrie and Laura occurs, without the representation of Carrie being as "Baby Carrie" as she is in the earlier books. After finishing school, Carrie worked for the newspaper in De Smet, then later onto larger newspapers. Carrie met David Swanzey in the Black Hills. David was a widower with two young children, Mary and Harold, and they marries on August 1, 1912 in Rapid City, South Dakota. Carrie raised David's children, and on June 2, 1946, Carrie died in Rapid City, South Dakota, leaving her older sister Laura as the last surviving member of the Ingalls family.

Some of Carrie's possessions are on display at various Laura Ingalls Wilder historical sites and museums.

Grace Pearl Ingalls




Grace Pearl Ingalls was the fifth and final child Charles and Caroline Ingalls and was born on May 23, 1877. Being only eight years old when Laura married, Grace thus played only a minor role in the last books of the series, often as a little girl who always tried to help, but often found more trouble or made more of a mess. Grace also followed her mother and Laura in that she became a school teacher near De Smet, South Dakota. On October 16, 1901, Grace married Nathan William Dow in the Ingalls family home, in the front parlor. She cared for her older sister Mary after her mother's death. Grace never had any children, and died in Manchester, South Dakota on November 10, 1941.

Almanzo James Wilder was the fifth child born to James and Angeline Wilder, on February 13, 1857, near Malone, New York. Laura wrote the story of his childhood here in her second book, Farmer Boy. His family later moved to Spring Valley, Minnesota


In 1879, Almanzo and his brother Royal, settled near De Smet. In The Long Winter, Almanzo and Cap Garland brought back wheat for the town to eat so everyone did not starve to death, since everyone was so short of food when the trains did not come. It was in De Smet, South Dakota where he met Laura Elizabeth Ingalls and they were married on August 25, 1885. He had a daughter, Rose, who was born on December 5, 1886, and a son in early August 1889, who died. Almanzo was plagued with debts and other hardships related to farming, which is documented in The First Four Years. Almanzo also got diptheria, which resulted in his paralysis.

In 1890, Laura, Almanzo and Rose lived with Almanzo's parents in Spring Valley, Minnesota. Between 1891 and 1892, the three then moved to Westville, Florida in hoped the warmer climate would help Almanzo's legs. Laura hated living there so much, they returned to De Smet. In July, 1894 the three then left for Laura and Almanzo's final home, Mansfield, Missouri where they bought Rocky Ridge Farm with the hidden $100 bill.

Almanzo lived out the rest of his life working on his beloved farm, until his death on October 23, 1949 from two heart attacks. Many of his possessions can be seen at the Rocky Ridge farm, as well as the Malone and Spring valley sites.

Rose Wilder was the first child and only daughter of Laura and Almanzo Wilder, born on December 5, 1886, in De Smet, South Dakota. She later moved to Mansfield, Missouri with her parents. Rose also went to complete highschool in Crowley, Louisiana, where she stayed with her aunt Eliza Jane Wilder
Rose wrote many books, including Let the Hurricane Roar, Old Home Town, Faces at the Window, Home Over Saturday, and Free Land, a story of homesteading. She also wrote many articles and serials for magazines. Rose married Claire Gillette Lane in San Francisco, California, on March 24, 1909, and divorced in1918. Rose had a son, who died at birth. She spent much of her time travelling to different parts of the world, including Vietnam where she worked as a war correspondent, and wrote many books and articles about her experiences.

On October 30, 1968, Rose died in Danbury, Connecticut, on the eve of a world tour trip

Royal Wilder was the second child born to James and Angeline Day Wilder, near Malone, New York. Laura wrote the story of his childhood here in her second book, Farmer Boy, where Royal's younger brother, Almanzo, was the lead character. His family later moved to Spring Valley, Minnesota

In 1879, Royal and his brother Almanzo, settled near De Smet. In The Long Winter, the two helped haul hay for De Smet residents to buirn when the trains could not make it through with fuel for heat, when the trains did not come. Royal opened a store in De Smet, where Almanzo would occasionally work as a clerk. When Laura and Almanzo fell ill with diptheria, it was Royal who helped nurse them back to health, while the Ingalls cared for Rose.

Royal left De Smet in 1890 and returned to Spring Valley, Minnesota and his family home. He opened up a Variety store on Broadway. It was there he met and married Electa Hutchinson, who already had four children. Royal and Electa had three children. One baby died at birth, and baby Susie died when she was only five months old. The third, Bernice Angeline, attended school in Spring Valley, married, and then moved away.

Royal died in 1925, and is buried in the Spring Valley cemetery.

Eliza Jane was born in 1850, possibly the first of the year, to James and Angeline Wilder. Eliza Jane was probably named after the wife of her father's brother, Eliza Jane Smith.
Eliza Jane became a school teacher in Malone, New York. When the Wilder's moved west from Malone to Spring Valley, Minnesota Eliza Jane followed and taught in the Spring Valley school during 1877 and 1878. In 1879 Eliza Jane accompanied her brothers Royal and Almanzo to De Smet, South Dakota where they all took claims. While tending her claim, Eliza Jane taught the school term which Laura writes about in Little Town on the Prairie. Later, she relocated to Washington D.C. where she became a "Government Girl" working for the Department of the Interior.

At the age of 42, Eliza Jane married Thomas Jefferson Thayer, a twice-married Spring Valley merchant with six children. In June of 1894, Walcott Thayer was born, named after the father of Thomas, whom was nicknamed Wilder. In 1899, Thomas died, with his estate being left to Etta, his daughter from a previous marriage.

It was at this time when Rose stayed with Eliza Jane to continue school in Crowley, Louisiana. In 1904, Eliza Jane married Maxwell Gordon, whom she later seperated from. Eliza Jane died on June 1, 1930 in Lafayette, Louisiana, and is buried there.

Nellie Oleson was the name Laura gave to her biggest rival in On the Banks of Plum Creek, Little Town on the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years. But Nellie Oleson was actually based on three schoolmates from Laura's childhood, so she would not have to name them personally in the books. This is only one of two instances where Laura delibrately used fictionalized names for certain unpleasant characters. The other instance was the Brewsters, when Laura taught her first term of school. Their actual name was Bouchie.

Nellie Owens was the primary basis of the character of Nellie Oleson. It was Nellie Owens who had a brother, Willie, just as Nellie Oleson did in the books. Nellie's parents also ran a mercantile in Walnut Grove, just as Nellie Oleson's parents did in On the Banks of Plum Creek.

Genevieve Masters was the daughter of Walnut Grove's schoolteacher. It was from Genevieve that Nellie Oleson got her haughty attitude towards Laura, because Genevieve was from New York, just as Nellie Oleson was. Genevieve often would speak of how wonderful New York was, and wore fancier New York clothing. With her superior attitude, Genevieve was far nastier than Nellie Owens was, and the two became keen rivals. Later, the Masters moved to De Smet, and her character is more closely related to the Nellie Oleson of Little Town on the Prairie and These Happy Golden Years.

Stella Gilbert is the third girl to be based on the character of Nellie Oleson. Stella lived on a farm outside De Smet. With a mother who was ill and bedridden, Almanzo innocently brought Stella along on buggy rides, not realizing the conflict between Stella and Laura. While it is unclear if Stella had any romantic intentions towards Almanzo, when Laura inserted the character of Nellie Oleson into this role, it became clear that Nellie had romantic intentions towards him.

Very little is known of these three girls afterwards. Nellie Owens brother, Willie, later became blind and went to a school for the blind and later married. In a letter written to fans, Laura said that Nellie Oleson moved to Louisiana, but it is unclear as to which "Nellie" she was referring to

Laura fondly writes of Mr. Edwards, the wildcat from Tennessee throughout her series of books. Mr. Edwards was the one who made sure Laura and her sisters got their Christmas gifts from Santa Claus in Little House on the Prairie. It is also Mr. Edwards who gives Mary a twenty dollar bill to start off her college education fund. But in reality, Mr. Edwards did not exist.
It is believed that the real Mr. Edwards was actually a Mr. Edmund Mason, who is buried in the Harrison Cemetery in Independence, Kansas. It is unlikely, however, that he would have returned to Independence, after suppodely meeting up with the Ingalls in De Smet, South Dakota. However, there are many other possible people who could have been Laura's Mr. Edwards, people she wrote about in her first biographical memoirs, Pioneer Girl, and those who have shown up in the Independence Census.

It is also speculated that Mr. Edwards is a completely made-up person, whom Laura gave the traits and actions of people she knew who did kind deeds for the Ingalls throughout the years. Mr. Edwards is a mystery to all but the Ingalls family themselves, and hopefully more research will prove without a doubt who Mr. Edwards of the Little House books really was.

Nellie Owens had a younger brother named Willie, just as the character Nellie did in the books. Nellies parents were William and Margaret Owens and did run a local mercantile in walnut grove ... Nellie Owens was the main basis for the Nellie Oleson

little more info on the Owens family ......


The family moved to Walnut Grove, Mn. in 1873 and that is where Mr. and Mrs. Owens began operating a general store. It was here in Walnut Grove that Laura and Nellie first met. The family later moved several times eventually settling in Tillamook, Oregon where Nellie met and married Henry Frank Kirry. They had three children, Zola Margaret, Lloyd Prescott and Leslie Henry. Later in life Nellie and Henry separated. Nellie died in 1949 at Portland, Oregon and is buried next to her brother and father.

another tidbit ...

' Jack ' the dog

Jack was Laura's first dog. Faithful Jack would follow along the many miles that the Ingalls family would travel. Jack was always there to protect Laura and her family. But Jack soon became to old to continue to travel and died. Laura and the family would never forget the faithful brindle bulldog. They would miss him very much.

Im not really sure on the story behind Ms. Beetle but ... Laura did teach 3 terms of teaching ... Grace attended collage at Redfield South Dakota to become a teacher and Carrie taught briefly and then she went to learn the printing trade at The De Smet News and Leader ... then onto work in printing, clerking in stores and other occupations




Originally posted by Jack1000
3. What about the main schoolteacher Ms. Beetle? Was that a real person in Laura's life? Did Laura actually become a teacher?

Mr. Isaiah Edwards was not a real person. They have looked but as far as anyone can tell, the character was made up right from the mind of Laura Ingals Wilder

Well, I think I will answer my own question from 3 years ago. But only kind of... it's speculation just like what I've done with Albert's illness. I've seen this episode recently and it was actually a low red-blood cell count the doctor in Mankato mentions, not a low white-count as I stated before. Charles II's symptoms and the fact that he had a low red-blood cell count seems to point to thalassemia. Even if I'm wrong, I'm almost 100% sure it wasn't leukemia as nantucket_wings suggested.

:wave:

Mr. Isaiah Edwards was not a real person. They have looked but as far as anyone can tell, the character was made up right from the mind of Laura Ingals Wilder

This is interesting because, although it has been YEARS since I read any of the books, Laura does talk about a "Mr. Edwards" in them. Didn't he come around Christmas time when the family was in Plumb Creek?

BTW, where was Plumb Creek located? This was Laura's first home correct? The second was in Walnut Grove, right?

Jack

This is interesting because, although it has been YEARS since I read any of the books, Laura does talk about a "Mr. Edwards" in them. Didn't he come around Christmas time when the family was in Plumb Creek?

BTW, where was Plumb Creek located? This was Laura's first home correct? The second was in Walnut Grove, right?

Jack

Mr. Edwards first appeared in Little House On The Prairie(The Christmas chapter). At that time the Ingalls' were living in Kansas. Plum Creek is near Walnut Grove Minnesota. Plum Creek was the name of the creek that they lived next to.

Mr. Edwards first appeared in Little House On The Prairie(The Christmas chapter). At that time the Ingalls' were living in Kansas. Plum Creek is near Walnut Grove Minnesota. Plum Creek was the name of the creek that they lived next to.
It's funny that in the show the first couple episodes or so mention them living in Plumb Creek. But after that, as far as I remember they just consider themselves living IN Walnut Grove. Am I right? No more actual references to their location being Plumb Creek were made after the first few episodes?