Laura Ingalls Wilder was an influential author who inspired many children around the world. His books told his remarkable story and showed what it meant to be an American pioneer. She was born February 7, 1867, in a small log cabin in the Big Woods, on a farm, near Pepin, Wisconsin. . Her father, Charles Phillip Ingalls, and her mother, Caroline Quiner Ingalls, had four daughters of whom Laura was the second, and one son. Her older sister Mary was born on January 10, 1865. Laura and her family left the Big Woods in 1869 and headed to the Osage Indian Reserve in Kansas where they stayed for only a year. There, Carrie, Laura's younger sister, was born on August 3, 1870. After leaving Kansas, they made a brief return to Wisconsin and then moved to Walnut Grove, Minnesota. The Ingalls faced many hardships there, including the death of Laura's nine-month-old younger brother, Charles Frederick or Freddie. Additionally, while they were there, their crops were eaten by grasshoppers for two consecutive years. Then, for money reasons, Charles moved his family to Burr Oak, Iowa, to manage a hotel. The Ingalls' youngest girl, whom they named Grace, was born here. Shortly after moving to Iowa, they returned to Minnesota. There Mary became seriously ill and became blind. Finally, in 1879, the Ingalls moved to DeSmet, South Dakota for the last time. This is where the rest of Laura's childhood took place. Laura was now twelve years old and the time had come for her to attend a real school. So, Laura and her younger sister Carrie went to the small one-room school in town. In the evening Laura repeated the lessons to her... in the middle of the page... that many children read and loved her books. But when he was seventy-six he decided to stop writing and spend more time with Almanzo on their farm. On October 23, 1949, Almanzo died at the age of ninety-two. Laura remained at Rocky Ridge Farm even after his death, but she did not feel alone. Almost every day children knocked on his door, hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the famous author. She welcomed them willingly and was grateful for their company. She was so happy that so many children enjoyed her books. On February 10, 1957 Laura died, three days before her ninetieth birthday. The life of Laura Ingalls Wilder is truly fascinating. She was a courageous pioneer and a talented writer. His books have become famous throughout the world. Children still admire this woman of great courage.