Mary Ingalls was born January 10, 1865, on her father's 29th birthday.
At age 14, Ingalls suffered an illness – allegedly scarlet fever – thought at the time to cause her blindness.[1] A 2013 medical study concluded that viral encephalitis actually disrupted her eyesight, based on evidence from first-hand accounts and newspaper reports of her illness, as well as relevant school registries, and epidemiologic data on blindness and infectious diseases.[2][3][4][5] Between 1881 and 1889, Ingalls attended the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa.
The historical record doesn't show why Ingalls did not attend school during one year of that time, but she did finish the seven-year course of study in 1889 and graduated. She then returned home to her parents in De Smet, South Dakota and contributed to the family income by making fly nets for horses.
After her father died in 1902, she and her mother rented out a room in their home for extra income. Following her mother's death in April 1924, she lived for a time with her sister, Grace Ingalls Dow in Manchester, South Dakota.
She then traveled to Keystone, South Dakota to live with her second youngest sister Carrie Ingalls Swanzey. There she suffered a stroke, and on October 20, 1928, she died of pneumonia at age 63. Her body was returned to De Smet, where she was buried in the Ingalls family plot next to her parents at De Smet Cemetery.[6]
Ingalls family plot, De Smet Cemetery, South DakotaMary Ingalls' headstone at De Smet Cemetery, South Dakota
In popular cultureEdit
Ingalls was portrayed in the television series Little House on the Prairie by actress Melissa Sue Anderson. The television version of Mary Ingalls became a teacher in a school for the blind and married a blind fellow teacher. The real Mary Ingalls never became a teacher nor married, but returned to De Smet to live with her parents after graduating from Vinton.[7][8]
ReferencesEdit
^Benge, Janet and Geoff (2005). Laura Ingalls Wilder: A storybook life. YWAM Publishing. p. 180. ISBN1-932096-32-9.
^Allexan, Sarah S.; Byington, Carrie L.; Finkelstein, Jerome I.; Tarini, Beth A. (2013). "Blindness in Walnut Grove: How did Mary Ingalls lose her sight?". Pediatrics. peds.2012-1438.
^dell'Antonia, K.J. (February 4, 2013). "Scarlet fever probably didn't blind Mary Ingalls". The New York Times. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
^Serena, Gordon (February 4, 2013). "Mistaken infection 'On the Prairie'?". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
^"Dispelling a myth: Scarlet fever did not make Mary Ingalls blind". Fox News (fox2now.com). February 11, 2013.
^"Rites held at De Smet for pioneer of county". The Daily Argus-Leader. October 21, 1928.
"Mary Ingalls Era 1877-1889." Vinton School for the Blind.
Bixler, Jennifer (February 4, 2013). "The Real Reason Mary Ingalls Went Blind". CNN.
About the Ingalls Family (Sarah S. Uthoff)
October 22, 2023
mary, ingalls, mary, amelia, ingalls, january, 1865, october, 1928, born, near, town, pepin, wisconsin, first, child, caroline, charles, ingalls, older, sister, writer, laura, ingalls, wilder, known, little, house, book, series, mary, amelia, ingallsmary, amel. Mary Amelia Ingalls January 10 1865 October 20 1928 was born near the town of Pepin Wisconsin She was the first child of Caroline and Charles Ingalls and older sister of writer Laura Ingalls Wilder known for her Little House book series Mary Amelia IngallsMary Amelia IngallsBornMary Amelia Ingalls 1865 01 10 January 10 1865near Pepin Wisconsin U S DiedOctober 20 1928 1928 10 20 aged 63 Keystone South Dakota U S ParentsCharles Phillip Ingalls father Caroline Lake Quiner mother RelativesLaura Ingalls Wilder sister Carrie Ingalls sister Grace Ingalls sister Rose Wilder Lane niece Almanzo Wilder brother in law Contents 1 Biography 2 In popular culture 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditMary Ingalls was born January 10 1865 on her father s 29th birthday At age 14 Ingalls suffered an illness allegedly scarlet fever thought at the time to cause her blindness 1 A 2013 medical study concluded that viral encephalitis actually disrupted her eyesight based on evidence from first hand accounts and newspaper reports of her illness as well as relevant school registries and epidemiologic data on blindness and infectious diseases 2 3 4 5 Between 1881 and 1889 Ingalls attended the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton Iowa The historical record doesn t show why Ingalls did not attend school during one year of that time but she did finish the seven year course of study in 1889 and graduated She then returned home to her parents in De Smet South Dakota and contributed to the family income by making fly nets for horses After her father died in 1902 she and her mother rented out a room in their home for extra income Following her mother s death in April 1924 she lived for a time with her sister Grace Ingalls Dow in Manchester South Dakota She then traveled to Keystone South Dakota to live with her second youngest sister Carrie Ingalls Swanzey There she suffered a stroke and on October 20 1928 she died of pneumonia at age 63 Her body was returned to De Smet where she was buried in the Ingalls family plot next to her parents at De Smet Cemetery 6 nbsp Ingalls family plot De Smet Cemetery South Dakota nbsp Mary Ingalls headstone at De Smet Cemetery South DakotaIn popular culture EditIngalls was portrayed in the television series Little House on the Prairie by actress Melissa Sue Anderson The television version of Mary Ingalls became a teacher in a school for the blind and married a blind fellow teacher The real Mary Ingalls never became a teacher nor married but returned to De Smet to live with her parents after graduating from Vinton 7 8 References Edit Benge Janet and Geoff 2005 Laura Ingalls Wilder A storybook life YWAM Publishing p 180 ISBN 1 932096 32 9 Allexan Sarah S Byington Carrie L Finkelstein Jerome I Tarini Beth A 2013 Blindness in Walnut Grove How did Mary Ingalls lose her sight Pediatrics peds 2012 1438 dell Antonia K J February 4 2013 Scarlet fever probably didn t blind Mary Ingalls The New York Times Retrieved February 4 2013 Serena Gordon February 4 2013 Mistaken infection On the Prairie U S News amp World Report Retrieved February 4 2013 Dispelling a myth Scarlet fever did not make Mary Ingalls blind Fox News fox2now com February 11 2013 Rites held at De Smet for pioneer of county The Daily Argus Leader October 21 1928 Holloway Diane November 30 1980 Sight for sore eyes Austin American Statesman McGlynn Ann September 3 2001 Blind school s budget slashed Quad City Times Further reading EditZochert Donald 1976 Laura The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder Avon Books ISBN 0 380 01636 2 External links Edit nbsp United States portal nbsp Biography portal Mary Ingalls Era 1877 1889 Vinton School for the Blind Bixler Jennifer February 4 2013 The Real Reason Mary Ingalls Went Blind CNN About the Ingalls Family Sarah S Uthoff Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Ingalls amp oldid 1170385070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
