FAQ

Adad got his sight back in "To See the Light (Part One) (1980)."

Mary Ingalls went blind in 1879 at age 14. Between 1840 and 1883, scarlet fever, caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, was one of the most common infectious causes of death among children in the United States.2 Case fatality rates ranged from 15% to 30%.2 As late as 1910, scarlet fever was cited as one of the top 4 causes of blindness, along with measles, meningitis, and "other diseases of the head."3 For reasons that remain unclear, scarlet fever case fatality rates fell dramatically in the early 20th century, well before antibiotic treatment.2,4. The writers only put it in the story because the series was based on a true story

During the show's run, the family lived in two cities, first in Walunt Grove, Minnesota, United States, then moving to Winoka, South Dakota, United States, then back to Walunt Grove, Minnesota, United States. Before the show's run and in the TV movie Little House on the Prairie (1974), the Ingallses lived in the deep woods (book: "Little House in the Big Woods") in Pepin, Wisconsin, United States, then moved to wide open space (an Indian territory) in Independence, Kansas, United States; they moved back to Wisconsin, United States and then went to Walunt Grove, Minnesota, United States.

Mankato, which is located in the south central part of Minnestoa, United States, takes place in "____" episodes which are: "Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)," "Ma's Holiday (1974)," "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 1 (1974)," "To See the World (1975)," "Four Eyes (1975)," (mentioned but not shown in episodes "The Award (1974)," "Survival (1975)," and "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)").

According to ""Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)" and To See the World (1975)," Mankato does have a saloon.

Minneapolis, which is located in the southeast part of Minnesota, United States, takes place in "____" episodes which are: "Money Crop (1975)," (mentioned but not shown in episodes "Founder's Day (1975),").

Plum Creek, located northwest from the town of Walnut Grove in the county of Redwood in Minnesota, United States is in "____" episodes, which are: "A Harvest of Friends (1974)," Country Girls (1974)," "100 Mile Walk (1974)," "Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)," The Love of Johnny Johnson (1974)," "If I Should Wake Before I Die (1974)," "Town Party-Country Party (1974)," "Ma's Holiday (1974)," "School Mom (1974)," "The Racoon (1974)," "The Voice of Tinker Jones (1974)," "The Award (1974)," "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 1 (1974)," "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 2 (1974)," "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)," "Family Quarrel (1975)," "Doctor's Lady (1975)," "Plague (1975)," "Circus Man (1975)," "Child of Pain (1975)," "Money Crop (1975)," "To See the World (1975)," "Founder's Day (1975)," "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975),"

According to "Child of Pain (1975)," Springfield does have a jail.

According to "Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)," Walnut Grove does not have a saloon; however, a temporary one was set up when a railroad was being built through the middle of it.

"____" episodes take place in Walnut Grove which are: "A Harvest of Friends (1974)," Country Girls (1974)," "100 Mile Walk (1974)," "Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)," The Love of Johnny Johnson (1974)," "If I Should Wake Before I Die (1974)," "Town Party-Country Party (1974)," "Ma's Holiday (1974)," "School Mom (1974)," "The Racoon (1974)," "The Voice of Tinker Jones (1974)," "The Award (1974)," "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 1 (1974)," "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 2 (1974)," "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)," "Family Quarrel (1975)," "Doctor's Lady (1975)," "Plague (1975)," "Circus Man (1975)," "Child of Pain (1975)," "Money Crop (1975)," "To See the World (1975)," "Founder's Day (1975)," "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)," "Four Eyes (1975),"

According to "Plague (1975)," Walnut Grove does not have a hospital. When a hospital is needed, the church/schoolhouse is used as a temporary hospital until no longer needed.

According to "Child of Pain (1975)" and "Ebenezer Sprague (1975)," Walnut Grove does not have a jail. The Oleson's ice house serves as a jail until trial can be arranged.

Willow Lake, located in the south central part of Minnestoa, United States in Redwood County is in "____" episodes, which are: "Plague (1975)," (mentioned but not shown in episodes "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 2 (1974)").

Little is known about Winoka but it is known that Winoka is located somewhere in the southeast part of South Dakota (Dakota Territory as it was called back then), United States in Central Time Zone in area code 605.

Though it's possible this could be in reference to the "Little Town on the Prairie", "These Happy Golden Years", and "The First Four Years" books set in the small town of DeSmet, South Dakota, United States. This small town is where the real life Ingalls settled and where Laura met Almanzo and had Rose.

As of today, there is no such city in South Dakota, United States with the name Winoka.

Albert is a fictional character and does not appear in the "Little House" books. However, the Ingalls family did actually include a son, but very briefly so as he died less than a year old and is completely omitted from the show, for some reason.

In "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 1 (1974)" & "The Lord Is My Shepherd: Part 2 (1974)" , baby Charles appears for a short time until his untimely death.

Caroline Ingalls worked "___" jobs which included the following: farmer (starting and ending in episode "100 Mile Walk (1974)" then starting back up and ending in episode "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)") school teacher (starting and ending in episode "School Mom (1974)"),

Mary Ingalls worked "___" jobs which included the following: store helper at "Oleson's Mercantile" (starting and ending in episode "The Award (1974)"), seamstress (starting and ending in episode "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)" then starting back up and ending in episode "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)," then starting back up a second time and ending in episode "Soldier's Return (1976)" (mentioned but not shown in episodes "For My Lady (1976)")), sheet music writer (starting and ending in episode "Soldier's Return (1976)"),

Laura Ingalls (Wilder) worked "___" jobs which included the following: farmer (starting and ending in episode "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)"),

Carrie Ingalls worked "___" jobs which included the following: farmer (starting and ending in episode The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)"),

Nels Oelson worked "___" jobs which included the following: store clerk at "Oleson's Mercantile" (starting in episode "A Harvest of Friends (1974)" and ending in episode "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)" then starting back up in episode "Family Quarrel (1975)" and ending in episode "Circus Man (1975)," then starting back up a second time and ending in episode "Money Crop (1975)," then starting back up a third time in episode "Founder's Day (1975)" and ending in episode "Four Eyes (1975)"), delivery driver (starting and ending in episode "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)" (mentioned but not show in episode "Money Crop (1975)")), member of school board (starting and ending in episode "Troublemaker (1976)"),

Harriet Oleson worked "___" jobs which included the following: store clerk at "Oleson's Mercantile" (starting in episode "A Harvest of Friends (1974)" and ending in episode "School Mom (1974)" then starting back up and ending in episode "The Voice of Tinker Jones (1974)," then starting back up a second time in episode "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)" and ending in episode "Family Quarrel (1975)," then starting back up a third time and ending in episode "Circus Man (1975)," then starting back up a fourth time and ending in episode "Money Crop (1975)," then starting back up a fifth time in episode "Founder's Day (1975)"), school teacher (starting and ending in episode "School Mom (1974)"), member of school board (starting and ending in episode "Troublemaker (1976)"),

Isaiah Edwards (a.k.a. Mr. Edwards) worked "___" jobs which included the following: mill work at "Hansen's Mill" (starting and ending in episode "Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)," then starting back up and ending in episode "Plague (1975)," then starting back up a second time and ending in episode "To See the World (1975)" (assumed he worked in episodes "The Love of Johnny Johnson (1974)" to "Town Party-Country Party (1974)" though not shown or mentioned, mention he got fired in episode "Ma's Holiday (1974)")), delivery driver (starting and ending in episode "The Award (1974)," then starting back up in episode "To See the World (1975)" (mentioned but not shown in episodes "Founder's Day (1975)")).

He has worked in the following jobs:

Roof work and seed stacking (episode "A Harvest of Friends (1974)," and episode "If I Should Wake Before I Die (1974)")

Mill work at "Hansen's Mill" (episode "A Harvest of Friends (1974)" through "Country Girls (1974)," "Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)," though "School Mom (1974)," "Doctor's Lady (1975)" through "Money Crop (1975)," "To See the World (1975)" through "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)," "Four Eyes (1975)," "In the Big Inning (1975)", "The Spring Dance (1975)," "The Runaway Caboose (1976)," "For My Lady (1976)" through "Centennial (1976)," "Soldier's Return (1976)" through "The Collection (1976)" [mentioned but not shown in episodes "Remember Me: Part II (1975)" and "The Pride of Walnut Grove (1976)"])

Farmer (episode "A Harvest of Friends (1974)" through "100 Mile Walk (1974)", "Money Crop (1975)," "Remember Me: Part I (1975)," "The Talking Machine (1976)," "For My Lady (1976)" [mentioned but not shown in episodes "Founder's Day (1975)," "Four Eyes (1975)," "" "Ebenezer Sprague (1975)," and "Going Home (1976)" and implied in episode "The Long Road Home (1976)"])

Miner (episode "100 Mile Walk (1974)")

Delivery driver ("Mr. Edward's Homecoming (1974)" through "Ma's Holiday (1974)," "The Award (1974)," "Haunted House (1975)," "Remember Me: Part I (1975)," "The Runaway Caboose (1976)", "The Long Road Home (1976)," "For My Lady (1976)")

Wheelwright (in "Christmas at Plum Creek (1974)," through "The Talking Machine (1976)" [mentioned but not shown in episode "A Matter of Faith (1976)"])

Stable cleaner for a blacksmith (episode "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)")

Pug mill repair work (episode "The Richest Man in Walnut Grove (1975)")

Carpenter of furniture ("In the Big Inning (1975)," "The Spring Dance (1975)," "Troublemaker (1976)," "For My Lady (1976)")

Construction worker of buildings (episode "Ebenezer Sprague (1975)")

Painter of signs (episode "At the End of the Rainbow (1975)")

Freight loading/unloading on train (episode "The Long Road Home (1976)")

The Ingalls family had two dogs as pets. The first one's name is Jack and the second one's name is Bandit. Little is known about how Jack became their pet, but he was their pet at least from the TV movie Little House on the Prairie (1974) while living deep in the woods of Wisconsin. He followed the family to Kansas and then to Walnut Grove, Minnesota.

In Castoffs (1977), Jack dies from old age, and Laura is devastated. Later, Charles unknowingly brings home a stray dog that catches a ride in the back of the wagon on his way home from a trip to Mankato. The Ingalls, except for Laura, decide to keep the dog and name him Bandit. At first, Laura refuses to bond with Bandit, but ends up liking the him.