No, the real Mary Ingalls, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s older sister, never had a baby, and she never married. While the Little House on the Prairie television series portrays Mary as a wife and mother, these parts of her story were entirely fictional and not based on historical fact. Much of what viewers saw in the TV show concerning Mary’s adult life was created to add drama and depth to the storyline.
Mary Ingalls in the Television Series
In the Little House on the Prairie TV show, Mary Ingalls (played by Melissa Sue Anderson) marries Adam Kendall, a fellow blind student at a fictionalized school for the blind. Together, they eventually open a school and have a baby—who tragically dies in a fire. This storyline, while emotional and memorable for fans, is entirely fictional.
These events did not happen in real life. The real Mary Ingalls:
Never married
Never had children
Never ran or taught at a school for the blind
Mary Ingalls in Real Life
The real Mary Amelia Ingalls was born on January 10, 1865, and went blind at the age of 14 after becoming seriously ill. While her blindness was long believed to be caused by scarlet fever, modern researchers suspect it may have been the result of viral meningoencephalitis or another neurological illness.
Mary began attending the Iowa College for the Blind (also known as the Vinton School for the Blind) in 1881 and remained there until she graduated in 1889. During her time at the school, she studied Braille reading, music, and practical life skills. She was a student, not a teacher, at the institution.
After completing her education, Mary returned to live with her parents in De Smet, South Dakota, where she remained for the rest of her life. She spent her later years living quietly with her mother, Caroline Ingalls, and later with her sisters.
A Quiet Life in De Smet
While her sister Laura Ingalls Wilder went on to marry, become a mother, and write the beloved Little House series, Mary lived a private and steady life in De Smet. She was known to:
Help with household chores despite her blindness
Participate in church and community activities
Make beadwork and handmade items to sell for extra income
Mary was deeply loved by her family and remained close to her sisters, particularly Carrie and Grace. She died on October 20, 1928, at the age of 63.
Related documents
Related reading
For more on Mary, read Mary Ingalls – The College Years by Marie Tschopp
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There is also a Little House fiction book written in the style of the original Little House books about Mary’s life at college.
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