—1885–1894: farms near De Smet, 71–85 passim; an old settler, 77; contracts diphtheria, 81; birthday celebrations, 78; has child (RWL), 78, 79; contracts diphtheria, 79, 80–81; death of son, 84, 259; helps with farm work, 80; house burns down, 84, moves to Spring Valley, Minn., 86–87; moves to Florida, 87–88; carries a revolver, 88, 93; lives in De Smet, 88–90; moves to Mansfield, Mo., 91–95
—1894–1957: purchases Rocky Ridge Farm, 96; helps AJW with field work, 97, 128, 136, 249, 252; raises chickens, 97, 109, 114, 120–21, 126, 128, 134; knitting and sewing, 97, 231; baking and cooking, 98, 109, 128, 231; attends church, 98, 171; lives in town, 99–100, 101–4; operates a boarding table, 99; in Eastern Star, 101, 111, 117, 159–60, 230–1; in Methodist Church, 102, 111, 117, 128, 140, 157, 179, 230, 231, 244, 261; in Methodist Ladies Aid, 134, 160, 230, 244; builds up Rocky Ridge Farm, 109, 112, 114; visits De Smet (1902) 111, (1931) 185, 191, 192–93, (1938), 226, 234, (1939), 228–29, 234; remodels farmhouse, 112–13; club activities, 116 128, 134, 140, 157, 159, 172, 179, 188, 203, 230, 231; visits San Francisco, 122–28, 170; writes letters to AJW, 123–24, 125, 126, 252; in Athenian Club, 4, 128, 159, 169, 227, 230, 256; in Justamere Club, 128, 157, 159, 203; as secretary-treasurer of Farm Loan Association, 4, 128, 136, 140, 163, 164, 167, 178, 199; and World War I, 132–35; activity in Red Cross, 133, 134, 135; loses bid for township collector, 4, 163–64; receives financial aid from RWL, 156, 200, 229, 233; travels to California, 167, 170; in Interesting Hour Club, 172; in Embroidery Club, 179; in Bridge Club, 179, 203; in Friday Afternoon Book Club, 230; and Great Depression, 180–81; moves back into farmhouse at Rocky Ridge, 213; speaks at Detroit Book Fair, 215–18; and World War II, 237–38, 245; end of writing career, 240, 241; later years, 241–57; sells Rocky Ridge Farm, 250; donates book manuscripts, 251, 256; receives recognition for work, 1, 250–51, 256–57, 258–59; death of husband, 251; first plane ride, 259; death, 261; estate, 261–62
Wilder, Perley, 86, 100
Wilder, Royal: as homesteader, 72–74; marriage, 88–89; mentioned, 65, 68, 69, 81, 85, 86
Wilkins school, 69, 78
“Willard, the marvelous,” 119
Williams, Garth, 250, 257, 259
Williams, Hugh, 164
Wilson, Woodrow, 132, 135
Wilson County, Kan., 23
Winnebago Indians, 17, 36
Winneshiek County, Iowa, 36
Winona, Minn., 19
Winona and St. Peter Railroad, 31, 45
Wisconsin: birthplace of LIW, 13; home of Ingalls family, 15–18, 20–22, 27–31, 164; migration to, 16, migration from, 27, 51; as fictional subject, 182, 206; mentioned, 47, 62
Wolves, 18–19
Women's Christian Temperance Union, 77, 101, 160, 164
Women's Committee, Council of National Defense, 133, 134
Women's Society of Christian Service, 230, 244
Woodmen, Ancient Order of United, 77
Woodworth, Ben, 60
Works Progress Administration, 198, 226, 232
World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition, 68
World War I, 132–35, 245
World War II, 102, 237–38, 245, 254
Wright County, Mo.: settlement in, 92; history, 101; economic activity, 110, 171; population, 117, 246; in World War I, 134; automobiles in, 169; and politics, 197, 198–99; black population of, 206; in World War II, 238; mentioned, 118, 232
Wright County Council of Defense, 134
Wright County Fair and Stock Show, 118, 120–21, 172
Wright County Library, 256
Wright County Singing Convention, 158, 238, 245, 279n8
Yankees, 22, 61, 62, 87
Yankton, Dakota Territory, and S. Dak.: land office, 50, 73–74, 221; LIW and AJW pass through, 93, 221, 229; mentioned, 56
Yanktonnais Indians, 47
Yankton College, 93
Yellowstone Park, 226
Yosemite National Park, 170
Young Men's Business Club, 118
Youth's Companion, 56
Zochert, Donald, 16
Zumbro River, 30, 31, 36
Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder Page 39