Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family moved to De Smet, South Dakota, in 1879, a pivotal moment in their lives that is chronicled in By the Shores of Silver Lake. At the time, De Smet was a new and growing settlement, and the Ingalls family arrived as some of the earliest settlers. The decision to move to De Smet was driven by Charles Ingalls, Laura’s father, who sought new opportunities for the family as the railroad expanded westward. The book captures the initial excitement and challenges of settling in a new town, where the family would eventually put down deep roots.
The Ingalls family’s time in De Smet is well-documented in Laura’s writings, with many significant events of her life taking place there. Laura spent her teenage years in De Smet, attending school, working, and helping her family through the harsh winters that were common in the Dakota Territory. It was in De Smet that Laura first encountered Almanzo Wilder, who would later become her husband.
In 1885, Laura married Almanzo, and the couple continued to reside in De Smet for several years. Their early married life in De Smet is detailed in The First Four Years, a book that describes the joys and struggles they faced as they tried to establish themselves as farmers. These years were marked by a series of challenges, including harsh weather, crop failures, and Almanzo’s battle with partial paralysis caused by diphtheria.
In 1888, due to Almanzo’s health issues, the Wilders left De Smet temporarily to live with Almanzo’s parents in Spring Valley, Minnesota. They hoped that the change of scenery and being close to family would aid Almanzo’s recovery. However, after a year, they decided to try living in Westville, Florida, in the hope that the warmer climate would further benefit Almanzo’s health. Unfortunately, the humid conditions in Florida did not provide the relief they had hoped for, and the couple eventually returned to De Smet in 1892.
The return to De Smet was short-lived. In 1894, just two years after their return, Laura and Almanzo decided to leave De Smet for the last time. They embarked on a journey to Mansfield, Missouri, where they would establish their final home, a farm they named Rocky Ridge. While the Wilders occasionally returned to De Smet for visits, they no longer lived there after 1894. De Smet, however, remained an important part of their lives and their story, as it was the place where they had endured so much and built the foundation of their life together.
Decades later, in 1931, Laura and Almanzo made a nostalgic trip back to De Smet by automobile. This journey is recounted in The Road Back, a chapter contained within the compendium A Little House Traveler. The visit allowed them to reconnect with their past and reflect on how much the town—and their lives—had changed since their time as young settlers in the Dakota Territory.
De Smet holds a special place in the legacy of Laura Ingalls Wilder, both as a central location in her books and as a significant part of her personal history. Today, De Smet continues to honor the memory of the Ingalls and Wilder families, with historical sites, museums, and a memorial society dedicated to preserving the rich history of the town and its famous residents.
For more detailed information about De Smet, including its historical significance, modern-day attractions, and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society, you can visit our complete page about De Smet. This resource offers a comprehensive look at the town’s past and present, making it an invaluable guide for fans of the Little House series and anyone interested in American pioneer history.
