Almanzo Wilder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Almanzo Wilder
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Wilder, circa 1885
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| Born | February 13, 1857 Burke, New York, U.S.
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| Died | October 23, 1949 (aged 92) Mansfield, Missouri, U.S.
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| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Rose Wilder Lane |
Almanzo James Wilder (February 13, 1857 – October 23, 1949) was the husband of famous author Laura Ingalls Wilder. He was also the father of another well-known writer, Rose Wilder Lane.
Contents
Biography
Early life
Almanzo Wilder was born in Burke, New York, on a farm near Malone. He was one of six children born to farmers James and Angeline Day Wilder. His older siblings were Laura Ann, Royal, Eliza Jane, and Alice. His younger brother was Perley.
Almanzo is a famous character in the Little House book series. His wife, Laura Ingalls Wilder, wrote a book called Farmer Boy about his childhood. This book tells stories from when Almanzo was eight years old in 1866. It describes his life on the farm, going to school, and learning to drive oxen. He also went to a county fair and celebrated the Fourth of July. The book shows how he learned to get along with his older brothers and sisters. His strong-willed sister, Eliza Jane, later became a teacher for Laura Ingalls.
Almanzo also appears in other Little House books. His wife wrote about how they met and got married in The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, and The First Four Years. He was known as a brave and hardworking man who loved horses and farming. He was also a skilled carpenter and woodworker.
Moving to The West
In 1870, Almanzo's family left New York because their crops failed. They moved west and started a new farm in Spring Valley, Minnesota.
Later, in 1879, Almanzo, his brother Royal, and his sister Eliza Jane moved to the Dakota Territory. They claimed land near what would become the town of De Smet, South Dakota. Almanzo planned to grow wheat on his new homestead. It was in De Smet that he first met Laura Ingalls. Her family had been among the first people to settle in that area.
Laura Ingalls wrote about Almanzo's bravery in The Long Winter. During the very harsh winter of 1880–1881, Almanzo and a friend, Ed Garland, risked their lives. They traveled 12 miles (19 km) through terrible blizzards to find wheat. This wheat saved the people of De Smet, including the Ingalls family, from starving. Almanzo was 23 years old at the time.
Marriage to Laura Ingalls
Almanzo and Laura began spending time together when he was 25 and she was 15. He would drive her to and from the school where she was teaching. They also enjoyed long buggy rides.
On August 25, 1885, Almanzo and Laura were married in De Smet. They started their own small farm on Almanzo's land. Their daughter, Rose, was born on December 5, 1886. Rose Wilder later became a famous writer herself, known as Rose Wilder Lane.
Their first years of marriage were very difficult, as described in The First Four Years. They faced bad weather, illnesses, and a lot of debt. In 1888, both Almanzo and Laura became very sick with diphtheria. They both survived, but Almanzo's legs were temporarily paralyzed. Even after he recovered, he needed a cane to walk. This made it hard for him to do the tough farm work. A long drought also made their financial problems worse.
The year 1889 was especially hard. In August, they had a baby boy, but he sadly died just two weeks later. Laura never spoke about his death, and they did not have any more children. That same month, their home burned down, and their crops failed due to the drought.
In 1890, the Wilders moved back to Spring Valley, Minnesota, to stay with Almanzo's parents. This was a time for them to rest and recover. Between 1891 and 1892, they moved again, this time to Westville, Florida. They hoped the warmer weather would help Almanzo get stronger. While the warm climate did help him, Laura did not like the humid weather or the local customs.
They returned to De Smet in 1892 and rented a small house. Almanzo worked as a carpenter, and Laura worked as a seamstress. They saved their money carefully.
Settling in Missouri and later years
On July 17, 1894, the Wilders left De Smet in a covered wagon. They were headed for the Ozarks in Missouri. They had heard good things about the area, known as "The Land of the Big Red Apple." On August 31, they arrived near Mansfield, Missouri. Almanzo bought 40 acres (16.2 ha) of undeveloped land. Laura named it "Rocky Ridge Farm." This farm would be their last home.
Over the next 20 years, Almanzo built Laura her dream house. It was a unique 10-room home, and he even custom-built kitchen cabinets to fit her small height.
Rocky Ridge Farm grew to about 200 acres (80.9 ha). It became a successful farm with chickens, dairy cows, and fruit trees. Almanzo loved Morgan horses and kept many of them. He also had a large herd of cows and goats. After their tough times in South Dakota, the Wilders learned to farm in a way that suited the Ozarks climate. Almanzo lived the rest of his life on this farm. Both he and Laura were active in their community and church.
The money from Laura's Little House books helped the Wilders greatly. Their daughter, Rose, also helped support them until the mid-1930s. Eventually, their hard work at Rocky Ridge and the book royalties gave them a secure income. This was something they had not known earlier in their marriage.
Almanzo learned to drive a car, which made it easier for them to travel. They took several long trips, visiting places like California and the Pacific Northwest. They also visited Laura's family in South Dakota many times.
In his later years, Almanzo enjoyed tending his vegetable and flower gardens. He continued his love for woodworking and carpentry. He also helped Laura greet the many Little House fans who visited Rocky Ridge Farm.
Almanzo Wilder passed away on October 23, 1949, at the age of 92. Laura Ingalls Wilder died eight years later, in 1957. Their daughter, Rose Wilder Lane, lived until 1968. All three are buried in Mansfield, Missouri. Many of Almanzo's belongings and his woodworking projects can be seen today at Rocky Ridge Farm. You can also visit sites related to his life in Malone, New York, and Spring Valley, Minnesota. Rocky Ridge Farm is now known as the Laura Ingalls Wilder/Rose Wilder Lane Museum.
From the stories written by his wife and daughter, Almanzo Wilder was a quiet and strong man. He loved farming, horses, and living in the countryside.
Name origin
In Laura Ingalls Wilder's book Little Town on the Prairie, she explains her husband's unusual first name:
It was wished on me. My folks have got a notion there always has to be an Almanzo in the family, because 'way back in the time of the Crusades there was a Wilder went to them, and an Arab or somebody saved his life. El Manzoor, the name was. They changed it after a while in England.
In the media
Books
Laura Ingalls Wilder published the novel Farmer Boy in 1933. This book tells a mostly fictional story based on one year of Almanzo's childhood. In 2012, Heather Williams wrote and published Farmer Boy Goes West. This book is another fictional story about Almanzo's childhood.
Television
Almanzo Wilder has been played by actors in TV shows based on Little House on the Prairie:
- Dean Butler played him in the TV series Little House on the Prairie and its movie sequels.
- Walton Goggins played him in the Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder films.
Legacy
The Boyhood Home of Almanzo Wilder is near Malone, New York. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. The Almanzo & Laura Ingalls Wilder Association runs this homestead. It is an educational center, museum, and working farm.
