• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • News
  • General Store
  • Little House on the Prairie Books
    • Little House in the Big Woods
    • Farmer Boy
    • Little House on the Prairie
    • On the Banks of Plum Creek
    • By the Shores of Silver Lake
    • The Long Winter
    • Little Town on the Prairie
    • These Happy Golden Years
    • The First Four Years
    • On the Way Home
    • West From Home
    • Boxed Sets & Special Editions
  • Other Little House Books
    • Little House Chapter Books
  • Other Series
    • The Martha Years – Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Great Grandmother
    • The Charlotte Years – Laura’s Grandmother
    • The Caroline Years – Little House Series about Laura’s Mother
    • The Rose Years – Books About Laura’s Daughter
  • Teachers & Homeschool Printables
    • Little House in the Big Woods
    • Farmer Boy
    • Little House on the Prairie
    • On the Banks of Plum Creek
    • By the Shores of Silver Lake
    • The Long Winter
    • Little Town on the Prairie
    • These Happy Golden Years
    • The First Four Years
    • Entire Series Worksheets
    • Unit Studies For Homeschoolers & Teachers
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Music
  • Crafts & Activities
  • Recipes
  • Research
  • Family & Friends
  • TV Series
    • Frequently Asked Questions About Little House on the Prairie TV Series
  • Historical Sites
    • Pepin, Wisconsin
    • Rothville, Missouri
    • Independence, Kansas
    • Walnut Grove, Minnesota
    • Burr Oak, Iowa
    • De Smet, South Dakota
    • Vinton, Iowa
    • Spring Valley, Minnesota
    • Westville, Florida
    • Mansfield, Missouri
    • Malone, New York
    • Cuba, New York
    • Keystone, South Dakota
    • Pomona, California

Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House on the Prairie Definitive Guide

Laura Ingalls Wilder & the Little House Books

Home » Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Family & Friends » Nellie Oleson – Biography

Nellie Oleson – Biography

Nellie Oleson – Biography

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.

For even more on the three girls behind the Nellie Oleson character, read The Three Faces of Nellie Oleson by Robynne Elizabeth Miller.

The Three Faces of Nellie: The Real Story Behind Laura Ingalls Wilder's 'Nellie Oleson'
The Three Faces of Nellie: The Real Story Behind Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Nellie Oleson"
  • Miller, Robynne Elizabeth (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 140 Pages - 11/28/2016 (Publication Date) - Practical Pioneer Press (Publisher)
$14.99
Buy on Amazon
Share your love of Little House

Related Posts:

  • TV's Nellie Oleson Biography
    TV's Nellie Oleson Biography
  • Was Nellie Oleson a Real Person?
    Was Nellie Oleson a Real Person?
  • Was Nellie Oleson's Hair Real or a Wig?
    Was Nellie Oleson's Hair Real or a Wig?
  • Did Nellie Oleson Really Marry Luke Simms?
    Did Nellie Oleson Really Marry Luke Simms?
  • Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls Novel
    Nellie Oleson Meets Laura Ingalls Novel
  • Did Nellie Oleson marry in real life?
    Did Nellie Oleson marry in real life?

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

General Store

  • Biographies, Research, Letters & Articles (32)
  • Collectibles (23)
  • Collector Books & Boxed Sets (10)
  • Cookbooks (5)
  • Crafts (6)
  • Dolls (21)
  • Home Decor (2)
  • Homeschool Resources (22)
  • Laura Ingalls Wilder Quilting Patterns & Fabric (18)
  • Little House Book Series (1)
  • Little House on the Prairie TV Series (19)
  • Other Pioneer Books (19)
  • Pioneer Clothing for Cosplay, Reenactments, Dressing Up & Costumes (126)
  • Pioneer Food (11)
  • Pioneer Living (8)
  • Related Little House Book Series (5)
  • Sewing Patterns (15)

Free Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study

… Our free exclusive unit study for Little House in the Big Woods with 32 worksheets plus additional activities, recipes, songs and more. about Free Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study

Sew Little House Costumes

… Patterns for making pioneer dresses, bonnets, aprons and mores for women & girls about Sewing Little House on the Prairie Pioneer Costumes

Little House Collector’s Editions

… Discover special editions and boxed sets of the Little House Books about Boxed Sets & Special Editions of the Little House Books

Some of our posts contain affiliate links and we will receive an affiliate commission for purchases. This is a great way to support what we do and see more great content!

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Visit our new General Store for books about Laura and pioneer life, along with DVDs, pioneer food, sewing and quilting. Dismiss