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In 1894, Laura Ingalls Wilder, her husband, Almanzo, and their daughter, Rose, packed their belongings into their covered wagon and set out on a journey from De Smet, South Dakota, to Mansfield, Missouri. They heard that the soil there was rich and the crops were bountiful -- it was even called "the Land of the Big Red Apple." With hopes of beginning a new life, the Wilders made their way to the Ozarks of Missouri.
During their journey, Laura kept a detailed diary of events: the cities they passed through, the travelers they encountered on the way, the changing countryside and the trials of an often difficult voyage. Laura's words, preserved in this book, reveal her inner thoughts as she traveled with her family in search of a new home in Mansfield, where Rose would spend her childhood, where Laura would write her Little House books, and where she and Almanzo would remain all the rest of their happy days together.
During their journey, Laura kept a detailed diary of events: the cities they passed through, the travelers they encountered on the way, the changing countryside and the trials of an often difficult voyage. Laura's words, preserved in this book, reveal her inner thoughts as she traveled with her family in search of a new home in Mansfield, where Rose would spend her childhood, where Laura would write her Little House books, and where she and Almanzo would remain all the rest of their happy days together.
128 pages
First published January 1, 1962
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About the author
Laura Ingalls Wilder
418 books5,380 followersIngalls wrote a series of historical fiction books for children based on her childhood growing up in a pioneer family. She also wrote a regular newspaper column and kept a diary as an adult moving from South Dakota to Missouri, the latter of which has been published as a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 372 reviews
July 22, 2022
What Laura found noteworthy on the journey from South Dakota to Missouri is a reflection of the time period and her life experiences thus far. Seemingly mundane and insignificant, Laura's diary entries give us a slow and thoughtful look at the world around her. Her entries on weather and crop conditions, geographical features, the people they meet along the way, and the cities they travel through provide historical information on not only the journey itself, but also on the social welfare and economic conditions of the time. There are also insights on the practicalities and impracticalities of distance travel such as how one received mail on such a journey, bathed, bought necessary supplies, or replenished drinking water.
Rose Wilder Lane's introductory and closing remarks bookend the diary nicely, adding detail and context to the sparse content, while the illustrations supplement the text and help the reader to visualize the scenes and conditions of the time.
Rose Wilder Lane's introductory and closing remarks bookend the diary nicely, adding detail and context to the sparse content, while the illustrations supplement the text and help the reader to visualize the scenes and conditions of the time.
May 15, 2012
I read “On the Way Home” when I was a kid and just couldn’t appreciate it like I do now. It is a travel log that Laura kept on her journey from De Smet to Mansfield. Most of the book is just a record of the Wilder family’s daily activities with little of the beautiful prose I’m so used to in Laura’s books. As a child, I couldn’t hear Laura’s voice, and I got bored with the seemingly monotonous details. Now, I can read between the lines a little more, and I find it fascinating.
I now can recognize the less than happy aspects of the Wilders’ lives. There is a definite hopelessness in this family. They went through so much, and they were leaving their family for an unknown future in Mansfield. Rose, who contributes the prologue and epilogue, seems to harbor a lot of bitterness, and I don’t know if I can blame her. It was jarring to see Laura in a less-than-shining light, but she doesn’t seem to give her daughter much attention. Rose is only mentioned by name 3-4 times throughout the whole journal. She also seems very distant toward Rose. It was definitely a different glimpse of my childhood hero.
With my grown-up eyes, I can also now see that this really was the same woman who wrote the Little House books. Though the style is entirely different, there is still some humor. Here are a few examples: “I went to a house to buy milk. It was swarming with children and pigs; they looked a good deal alike.” “We crossed 11 creeks today, or one creek 11 times, I don’t know which.”
Finally, I loved reading her descriptions of places that I know well and routes that I travel often. She describes Lamar as one of the nicest towns they passed. Springfield had four booming business blocks and was “simply grand.” She described the squares of Seymour and Mansfield, and they don’t seem to have changed all that much.
This book is definitely more raw and honest than the Little House books. It really helped me see a different side of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
I now can recognize the less than happy aspects of the Wilders’ lives. There is a definite hopelessness in this family. They went through so much, and they were leaving their family for an unknown future in Mansfield. Rose, who contributes the prologue and epilogue, seems to harbor a lot of bitterness, and I don’t know if I can blame her. It was jarring to see Laura in a less-than-shining light, but she doesn’t seem to give her daughter much attention. Rose is only mentioned by name 3-4 times throughout the whole journal. She also seems very distant toward Rose. It was definitely a different glimpse of my childhood hero.
With my grown-up eyes, I can also now see that this really was the same woman who wrote the Little House books. Though the style is entirely different, there is still some humor. Here are a few examples: “I went to a house to buy milk. It was swarming with children and pigs; they looked a good deal alike.” “We crossed 11 creeks today, or one creek 11 times, I don’t know which.”
Finally, I loved reading her descriptions of places that I know well and routes that I travel often. She describes Lamar as one of the nicest towns they passed. Springfield had four booming business blocks and was “simply grand.” She described the squares of Seymour and Mansfield, and they don’t seem to have changed all that much.
This book is definitely more raw and honest than the Little House books. It really helped me see a different side of Laura Ingalls Wilder.
April 1, 2018
A very good story of Laura's last pilgrimage, definitely interesting to read through for Little House fans but also to those interested in the early years of the Midwest. The details of the communities and the pricing of things was interesting; I'd have enjoyed it more if there were some way of knowing if the prices were low or high, but of course there's no clue for what reasonable wheat/coal/corn prices were back in that time.
September 10, 2011
I thought this book was very enjoyable. I've seen many reviews in which people went into it thinking it was going to be another Little House book, but what you have to remember is that when Laura wrote this she never meant to publish it. It was simply a little diary she kept on the 650-mile journey from De Smet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri that she wrote in a 5-cent notebook. It lacks the polish of her most famous works, but it's still fascinating for all Laura Ingalls Wilder fans. Lurking underneath the text you can catch glimpses of the little girl on the prairie that many of us read about in our childhood and the few pictures included in the volume are just plain neat. It's nice to be able to put a face on the characters we feel as though we already know intimately. Laura herself looks poised, but her eyes have a far away, dreamy look in them (no doubt inherited by her restless Pa) and quiet Almanzo was (dare I say it?) downright sexy! Little Rose looks the picture of a sophisticated young lady in her tiny pearls and carnelian ring that she was so adamant to display. The book has a forward and afterwards of sorts and footnotes to clarify certain points by Rose Wilder Lane, which are helpful in rounding things out and explaining bits of the life that us as modern folks are not well-versed in. In short, if you're a fan of the Little House on the Prairie books, you'll probably be very interested in this short book. If you're not a fan, you'll most likely be bored by it.
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February 13, 2016Still struggling to catch up with my backlog of Laura Ingalls Wilder-related reading that I did last summer in preparation for our tour, which I'd also like to record eventually!
This diary of Laura's trip from South Dakota to the Ozarks, as a young woman with a small daughter, in the wake of many domestic disasters that prompted the move, is one of the things that makes me totally discount the notion that Rose Wilder Lane (Laura's daughter) "wrote" the Little House books for Laura, a currently fashionable notion. Laura's voice in this diary is so strong and so honest, as is her ability to tell a good story, to capture character, and to set an incredible scene. The most frustrating thing about the book is its sudden end - explained in Rose's afterword by the emotional and financial crisis of the assumed loss of the $100 bill that was supposed to be the down-payment for the Wilder's new property. I would love to have more of this diary. (I also love Rose's memories of the trip that frame the diary entries, and wouldn't mind more of them, either.)
Here's a thing from Laura's diary:
We all stopped and looked back at the scene and I wished for an artist's hand or a poet's brain or even to be able to tell in good plain prose how beautiful it was. If I had been the Indians I would have scalped more white folks before I ever would have left it. (23 July, 1894, p. 23-24)
I love the palpable longing in her feeling of inadequacy to describe the beauty and emotional impact of what she sees. I love the glimpse we get at her understanding of the political issues that have brought her to this place, and her uncomfortable sympathy for the people who have been displaced and scapegoated in order to give her the freedom of being here. And I love that in fact she is up to the task of describing it, and does so for generations to come.
Here's another thing, from Rose's afterword, when the 5-year-old Rose has inadvertently spoiled a small surprise her father had wanted to give her mother:
You do such things, little things, horrible, cruel, without thinking, not meaning to. You have done it; nothing can undo it. This is a thing you can never forget. (p. 94)
And it's so amazing to me that this hard piece of small-child wisdom can still have power to hurt and instruct, so many years later. And it's for this reason that I love the individual writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and of Rose Wilder Lane, and the collaboration of these women. There's still so much to learn from them.
This diary of Laura's trip from South Dakota to the Ozarks, as a young woman with a small daughter, in the wake of many domestic disasters that prompted the move, is one of the things that makes me totally discount the notion that Rose Wilder Lane (Laura's daughter) "wrote" the Little House books for Laura, a currently fashionable notion. Laura's voice in this diary is so strong and so honest, as is her ability to tell a good story, to capture character, and to set an incredible scene. The most frustrating thing about the book is its sudden end - explained in Rose's afterword by the emotional and financial crisis of the assumed loss of the $100 bill that was supposed to be the down-payment for the Wilder's new property. I would love to have more of this diary. (I also love Rose's memories of the trip that frame the diary entries, and wouldn't mind more of them, either.)
Here's a thing from Laura's diary:
We all stopped and looked back at the scene and I wished for an artist's hand or a poet's brain or even to be able to tell in good plain prose how beautiful it was. If I had been the Indians I would have scalped more white folks before I ever would have left it. (23 July, 1894, p. 23-24)
I love the palpable longing in her feeling of inadequacy to describe the beauty and emotional impact of what she sees. I love the glimpse we get at her understanding of the political issues that have brought her to this place, and her uncomfortable sympathy for the people who have been displaced and scapegoated in order to give her the freedom of being here. And I love that in fact she is up to the task of describing it, and does so for generations to come.
Here's another thing, from Rose's afterword, when the 5-year-old Rose has inadvertently spoiled a small surprise her father had wanted to give her mother:
You do such things, little things, horrible, cruel, without thinking, not meaning to. You have done it; nothing can undo it. This is a thing you can never forget. (p. 94)
And it's so amazing to me that this hard piece of small-child wisdom can still have power to hurt and instruct, so many years later. And it's for this reason that I love the individual writings of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and of Rose Wilder Lane, and the collaboration of these women. There's still so much to learn from them.
January 9, 2018
I hadn't heard of these last couple of Little House books until recently. It's not technically in the Little House series, but does continue to follow the Wilder family on their journey to Rocky Ridge Farm in Missouri, where Rose lived out her growing-up years.
The observations Laura makes in her diary along the way definitely show she's lived the previous years as a farmer's wife: there are notations about how good the crops and land look, how much wheat and other crops are selling by the bushel, how much land costs in various locations, etc. Though a bit tedious in places, it certainly shows her mentality and the urgency of finding a good piece of land, enough to survive upon.
The observations Laura makes in her diary along the way definitely show she's lived the previous years as a farmer's wife: there are notations about how good the crops and land look, how much wheat and other crops are selling by the bushel, how much land costs in various locations, etc. Though a bit tedious in places, it certainly shows her mentality and the urgency of finding a good piece of land, enough to survive upon.
October 14, 2018
The most interesting part of this short book is meeting Rose Wilder as an adult, filling in the before and after story of her mother's journal. And yet still a nice little addition to your Little House collection if you are a fan. My review:On the Way Home.
May 7, 2024
After Laura's death in 1957, her daughter Rose published Laura's travelogue from 1894 when the young family had moved from DeSmet SD to Mansfield MO. Laura and Almanzo had endured much misfortune in the early years of their marriage and were trying to make a fresh start with Rose who was seven at the time. This is not from the Little House on the Prairie series, instead, Rose bookends Laura's diary entries with insight about the Wilder family during that era and includes pictures of the locations they traveled through and a few footnotes. Laura's observations were never meant to be published, so they are not polished but you see early glimpses of her writing style. I found the traveling information interesting especially about the German and Russian settlements they encountered for it gives a window into that region and time.
I also liked getting to know the real Laura and this glimpse was not as sanitized as she would later write about her own Ma. Laura could be petulant and didn't seem overly affectionate with Rose or Almanzo. I read this book years ago, so I had to ruefully smile at Rose's recounting of the misplaced $100 bill because my thoughts reading it before I had children had changed and I now understood Laura's misguided anger. Adults who are LIW fans would be best to read this book, as younger readers might be confused by the stylistic change.
I also liked getting to know the real Laura and this glimpse was not as sanitized as she would later write about her own Ma. Laura could be petulant and didn't seem overly affectionate with Rose or Almanzo. I read this book years ago, so I had to ruefully smile at Rose's recounting of the misplaced $100 bill because my thoughts reading it before I had children had changed and I now understood Laura's misguided anger. Adults who are LIW fans would be best to read this book, as younger readers might be confused by the stylistic change.
May 30, 2016
A friend of mine loaned me a thin hard cover book of the diary of a trip from South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri in 1894 by Laura Ingalls Wilder 1867-1957). The forward of the book is written by Rose Wilder Lane (1886-1968) the daughter of LIW. There are a number of pictures in the book which I found most interesting.
In 1894 South Dakota was stricken by a severe drought and the depression of the 1890s was under way. Laura and Almanzo Wilder decided to move to the Ozarks. Laura kept a day-to- day diary of the trip. Their daughter, Rose Wilder, was seven years old during this trip. Wilder wrote the Little House on the Prairie (eight books in all) for children in the 1930s using her diaries as reference. They traveled in a covered wagon pulled by two horses. Laura describes the towns passed through; there are pictures of Schuyler, Nebraska; Marysville, Kansas; Topeka, Kansas; Fort Scott, Kansas and Mansfield, Missouri. Laura also included information about crops, birds, fruits and flowers seen along the way. I think it would be fun to drive this route from De Smet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri following the route they took as closely as possible, taking photographs to compare with those in the book. I found the photograph of a lap desk made of wood with a lid to keep writing supplies inside most interesting. Almanzo made it for Laura so she would have a comfortable way of writing. We are having our drought problems today in California so I could relate to the song Laura wrote about being sung in South Dakota in the 1890s. The words are as follows:
O Dakota land, sweet Dakota land,
As on thy burning soil I stand
And look away across the plains
I wonder why it never rains,
Till Gabriel blows his trumpet sound
And says the rain has gone around.
We don’t live here, we only stay
‘Cause we’re too poor to get away.
I noted the book was copyrighted in 1962 by Roger Lea MacBride (1929-1995). He called himself “the adopted grandson” of Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of LIW. He copyrighted three additional books and a series about the childhood of Rose Wilder. He also co-produced the 1970s TV series “Little House on the Prairie.” After his death a law suit was filed by the Mansfield, Missouri Library. They contended that Wilder’s original Will gave her daughter ownership of the literary estate only for her life time and all rights reverted to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Library, the case was settled out of court.
In 1894 South Dakota was stricken by a severe drought and the depression of the 1890s was under way. Laura and Almanzo Wilder decided to move to the Ozarks. Laura kept a day-to- day diary of the trip. Their daughter, Rose Wilder, was seven years old during this trip. Wilder wrote the Little House on the Prairie (eight books in all) for children in the 1930s using her diaries as reference. They traveled in a covered wagon pulled by two horses. Laura describes the towns passed through; there are pictures of Schuyler, Nebraska; Marysville, Kansas; Topeka, Kansas; Fort Scott, Kansas and Mansfield, Missouri. Laura also included information about crops, birds, fruits and flowers seen along the way. I think it would be fun to drive this route from De Smet, South Dakota to Mansfield, Missouri following the route they took as closely as possible, taking photographs to compare with those in the book. I found the photograph of a lap desk made of wood with a lid to keep writing supplies inside most interesting. Almanzo made it for Laura so she would have a comfortable way of writing. We are having our drought problems today in California so I could relate to the song Laura wrote about being sung in South Dakota in the 1890s. The words are as follows:
O Dakota land, sweet Dakota land,
As on thy burning soil I stand
And look away across the plains
I wonder why it never rains,
Till Gabriel blows his trumpet sound
And says the rain has gone around.
We don’t live here, we only stay
‘Cause we’re too poor to get away.
I noted the book was copyrighted in 1962 by Roger Lea MacBride (1929-1995). He called himself “the adopted grandson” of Rose Wilder Lane, the daughter of LIW. He copyrighted three additional books and a series about the childhood of Rose Wilder. He also co-produced the 1970s TV series “Little House on the Prairie.” After his death a law suit was filed by the Mansfield, Missouri Library. They contended that Wilder’s original Will gave her daughter ownership of the literary estate only for her life time and all rights reverted to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Library, the case was settled out of court.
September 2, 2022
On the way home is a travel diary written by Laura Ingalls Wilder with an introduction and conclusion by her daughter Rose Wilder. It was from 1894, but published in 1962. The Wilders save up some money and decide to move from South Dakota to Missouri and Laura decides to keep a little diary to detail their journey. In the introduction and conclusion Rose shares her memories and experiences of this journey that was made when she was a child.
This wasn’t anything super exciting, but as a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan it was nice to get an insight into this journey they made and to read Laura’s observations. Just like I felt reading the Little House books, I just can’t help but admire this family’s resilience. They are rather down and out when they take this journey and there is an air of desperation. However they do end up finding a little place and not too long after build a dream home, which is now a museum you can go and visit ( I’d love to do that one day). There were two details that stuck out to me. One was that Laura recorded the temperature for part of their journey. They traveled in sweltering weather most of the time, the highest temperature they traveled in was 126 degrees! Again, I admire the resilience and strength of this family. I was reading this during a California heat spell of 101, thinking I had it rough. Guess it could always be worse! The second detail that stuck out was in Rose’s conclusion. She was talking about her mother getting dressed and that her hair came down to her heels! Could you imagine? How amazingly beautiful and epic that must have been.
Anyways, while this isn’t a super exciting book I think if you have a strong interest in Laura Ingalls Wilder or want a true record of the pioneer experience this is worth a read.
This wasn’t anything super exciting, but as a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan it was nice to get an insight into this journey they made and to read Laura’s observations. Just like I felt reading the Little House books, I just can’t help but admire this family’s resilience. They are rather down and out when they take this journey and there is an air of desperation. However they do end up finding a little place and not too long after build a dream home, which is now a museum you can go and visit ( I’d love to do that one day). There were two details that stuck out to me. One was that Laura recorded the temperature for part of their journey. They traveled in sweltering weather most of the time, the highest temperature they traveled in was 126 degrees! Again, I admire the resilience and strength of this family. I was reading this during a California heat spell of 101, thinking I had it rough. Guess it could always be worse! The second detail that stuck out was in Rose’s conclusion. She was talking about her mother getting dressed and that her hair came down to her heels! Could you imagine? How amazingly beautiful and epic that must have been.
Anyways, while this isn’t a super exciting book I think if you have a strong interest in Laura Ingalls Wilder or want a true record of the pioneer experience this is worth a read.
December 19, 2019
When I listen to Beverley Volfie when she read Laura Ingalls Wilder's stories I transfer to another world. This time I was there too. Nonetheless, some of the stories were too short and too much like just notebook entries to allow me to enjoy them more.
PS QNPoohBear is right. If you think of reading it, pick the print book with the photos.
PS QNPoohBear is right. If you think of reading it, pick the print book with the photos.
September 3, 2024
I honestly don't remember if I've never read this before, or if it just made so little of an impact on me that I don't recall it from the tail end of one of my adult Little House re-reads.
It is quite short.
Rose opens in a pseudo-naive voice and explains about the Panic of '93 and the drought and leaving Ma and Pa and Mary for the Land of the Big Red Apple. The Wilders travel from South Dakota to Mansfield, MO with their friends, the Cooleys, who sound like amazing traveling buddies. Laura's diary mentions no conflict with them, just the constant humdrum of incidents, places, county lines, farms, and the prices of everything. I don't remember what Prairie Fires said about why they chose Mansfield, but it seems like advertising had a lot to do with it. The Wilders seem to be sizing up and considering a lot of farms for sale on the way down. They like most of the towns and cities they see, and there is good water at a lot of campsites. They also meet good people: Russians, Germans, and a whole lot of emigrants. Economic stagnation and drought are everywhere, so some travelers are going up to South Dakota to try their luck, some are going further west, back east, down south.
The Wilders find their farm in Mansfield after some hundred dollar bill drama, and Rose ends the book with a description of the fantastic house they built after several years of a small cabin and hard work. Rose spent most of high school living with her Aunt Eliza Jane, which was better for everyone involved, but she pulls the story together nicely. It's good to hear a less-edited Laura's voice describing things.
It is quite short.
Rose opens in a pseudo-naive voice and explains about the Panic of '93 and the drought and leaving Ma and Pa and Mary for the Land of the Big Red Apple. The Wilders travel from South Dakota to Mansfield, MO with their friends, the Cooleys, who sound like amazing traveling buddies. Laura's diary mentions no conflict with them, just the constant humdrum of incidents, places, county lines, farms, and the prices of everything. I don't remember what Prairie Fires said about why they chose Mansfield, but it seems like advertising had a lot to do with it. The Wilders seem to be sizing up and considering a lot of farms for sale on the way down. They like most of the towns and cities they see, and there is good water at a lot of campsites. They also meet good people: Russians, Germans, and a whole lot of emigrants. Economic stagnation and drought are everywhere, so some travelers are going up to South Dakota to try their luck, some are going further west, back east, down south.
The Wilders find their farm in Mansfield after some hundred dollar bill drama, and Rose ends the book with a description of the fantastic house they built after several years of a small cabin and hard work. Rose spent most of high school living with her Aunt Eliza Jane, which was better for everyone involved, but she pulls the story together nicely. It's good to hear a less-edited Laura's voice describing things.
March 3, 2015
When Laura Ingalls married Almanzo Wilder they finished The First Four Years. They left De Smet, South Dakota for Mansfield, Missouri with their daughter Rose. This book starts with Rose remembering the leaving of De Smet. The middle portion is journal entries from Laura as they travel the road. The end is memories from Rose again trying to complete the story. Scattered throughout are vintage photos of important landmarks on the journey.
While Laura writes her portion of this book very journalistic or diary like, the Rose portions are a stream of memories that she has pieced together and reordered to fit the proper timeline. Since they are memories, some are incomplete and there are gaps that may have been interesting but are lost to time.
I found this book to be fairly simple. The Rose portions were childlike but really moved things along. The Laura portions, in that journal style, were sometimes abrupt. Also, in terms of editing, both the beginning and end were large chunks of story with no breaks. The middle portion, as a travel log, was quite choppy. While fans of Little House may appreciate this, I don’t think many will love it.
While Laura writes her portion of this book very journalistic or diary like, the Rose portions are a stream of memories that she has pieced together and reordered to fit the proper timeline. Since they are memories, some are incomplete and there are gaps that may have been interesting but are lost to time.
I found this book to be fairly simple. The Rose portions were childlike but really moved things along. The Laura portions, in that journal style, were sometimes abrupt. Also, in terms of editing, both the beginning and end were large chunks of story with no breaks. The middle portion, as a travel log, was quite choppy. While fans of Little House may appreciate this, I don’t think many will love it.
December 31, 2015
This really sets the stage for the Little House books! Ah, the Dust Bowl/drought and a reminder that so many traveled back and forth and yon in "the Wild West" before settling down. Another reminder (in addition to The Jam on the Vine) that the west was settled by so many recent immigrants to the U.S., not just the Eastern European immigrants who first landed here--'cause they were all immigrants, after all! (Woe to the indigenous folks... :( ) The daunting task of purchasing land and then the need to "clear" it to make it suitable for tilling and pasture. So much hard labor required! You had to be hardy in both body and soul!
April 21, 2014
I love just about anything written by Laura. This book is just on more insight into her soul. I enjoyed learning about her life after the Little House books.
June 29, 2017
I have far too much emotional attachment to rate this objectively, but I did like reading a more candid piece of writing from her.
March 12, 2024
I was a Laura Ingalls Wilder fan all through my childhood, and originally purchased and read this book 45 years ago. It remained in my collection, along with the nine “Little House” books, “ West of Home,” the LIW Songbook, the color book, and the paper dolls! These books truly shaped my love of reading and created a basis for imaginary play.
Now at almost 60, I will be visiting the Little House on the Prairie in Independence, Kansas, and the LIW museum in Mansfield, Missouri. I pulled this book, and a biography I purchased in South Dakota a couple years ago, as refreshers on Wilder in preparation for my stops.
This book is more informational than entertaining, but I appreciate it for its historical references, which provide context for my Mansfield visit. The majority of my Little House memories are from Laura’s childhood years, so this summary from one pivotal year of her adult life serves my purpose well.
Now at almost 60, I will be visiting the Little House on the Prairie in Independence, Kansas, and the LIW museum in Mansfield, Missouri. I pulled this book, and a biography I purchased in South Dakota a couple years ago, as refreshers on Wilder in preparation for my stops.
This book is more informational than entertaining, but I appreciate it for its historical references, which provide context for my Mansfield visit. The majority of my Little House memories are from Laura’s childhood years, so this summary from one pivotal year of her adult life serves my purpose well.
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June 4, 2018This should be fascinating to anyone, like me, who is interested in American history and/or family history from this area and/or Laura Ingalls Wilder. This trip takes place when Laura and Almanzo and their 7-year-old daughter Rose give up farming in South Dakota and travel by covered wagon to Missouri and hopefully a better life. I enjoyed, as in regular the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, the details of life at the time.
If you're not interested in American history or geography or LIW, you probably won't enjoy it that much.
If you're not interested in American history or geography or LIW, you probably won't enjoy it that much.
December 31, 2013
This book is interesting for a few reasons. It’s a categorical account of the Wilder’s trip from De Smet, SD to Mansfield, MO, including the cost for various work tasks and the number of wagons traveling both ways down the trail. Now, I know that sounds kind of boring and a lot of people think it is. But I found it really fascinating. It’s chock full of information that historians and history nerds find fascinating about that time. As a farm wife, the cost of labor and its products were fascinating to Laura. The fact that it fascinated her, fascinated me as well. It’s also interesting reading Rose’s thoughts.
Published after Laura’s death, Rose wrote the introduction and the postscript – an eye-opening read for anyone in love with Laura, especially a young kid, to happen across. Rose is simultaneously generous and vitriolic toward her parents.
The vitriole is, of course, difficult to read. After reading eight books and reconnecting with Laura, I don’t want to read any negative thoughts about her. Also, throughout those eight books, Laura was very clear about her own shortcomings. I definitely didn’t want to read someone else’s negative thoughts about her.
Rose used her position to point out how perfect and precocious she was. There’s the photo of her as a two year old, which she clearly recalls posing for. Then she states that she was far too advanced for De Smet elementary (even as a second grader). Anyone, particularly Laura, insinuating that she wasn’t perfect or simply reminding her of the rules as any attentive parent would, was subject to her indignation.
This fact is evidenced in the events that happened when the family arrived in Mansfield. The down payment money they’d saved for months was missing. Laura and Almanzo were frantic. Laura asked Rose several times if she’d touched the money, showed it to anyone or told anyone about it. Rose was adamant that she hadn’t and so mad at the implication that as an adult she was still traumatized by the incident. It’s understandable that she’d be upset about this as a child, but to be upset enough to remember it into adulthood with such bitterness is just bizarre.
Again, I will state that this book shouldn’t be shelved as children’s lit. It’s far too dry and confusing. But as a look back at the time for an adult, it was definitely fascinating.
Published after Laura’s death, Rose wrote the introduction and the postscript – an eye-opening read for anyone in love with Laura, especially a young kid, to happen across. Rose is simultaneously generous and vitriolic toward her parents.
The vitriole is, of course, difficult to read. After reading eight books and reconnecting with Laura, I don’t want to read any negative thoughts about her. Also, throughout those eight books, Laura was very clear about her own shortcomings. I definitely didn’t want to read someone else’s negative thoughts about her.
Rose used her position to point out how perfect and precocious she was. There’s the photo of her as a two year old, which she clearly recalls posing for. Then she states that she was far too advanced for De Smet elementary (even as a second grader). Anyone, particularly Laura, insinuating that she wasn’t perfect or simply reminding her of the rules as any attentive parent would, was subject to her indignation.
This fact is evidenced in the events that happened when the family arrived in Mansfield. The down payment money they’d saved for months was missing. Laura and Almanzo were frantic. Laura asked Rose several times if she’d touched the money, showed it to anyone or told anyone about it. Rose was adamant that she hadn’t and so mad at the implication that as an adult she was still traumatized by the incident. It’s understandable that she’d be upset about this as a child, but to be upset enough to remember it into adulthood with such bitterness is just bizarre.
Again, I will state that this book shouldn’t be shelved as children’s lit. It’s far too dry and confusing. But as a look back at the time for an adult, it was definitely fascinating.
February 18, 2016
What many people may not realize is that after you finish reading all 9 of Laura Ingalls Wilder's 'Little House' books, her story still continues. 'On the Way Home' was published posthumously, with help from Laura's daughter, Rose. It was originally written in 1894 on the trail, published decades later in 1962.
Laura kept this diary when she and Almanzo decided to move from South Dakota to Missouri, where they started an apple tree farm. So much good information and background is brought to light. I liked learning the fine details of their life at the time -- for example, Laura would always write down certain bits, like the time they started out each morning, and often a daily temperature. (I thought it was neat that they had a thermometer on their wagon!) They picked up a dog along the way and named it Fido. (I did have higher hopes that Laura's writer-imagination could have prompted another name, but anyways...) Plus, there's the rather interesting story of the $100 bill tucked away in the desk -- but you can find out all about that when you read it.
About half of 'On the Way Home' is Laura's diary notes -- the rest is written by Rose with supplementary information. Included are many photographs taken around the same time as the Wilder's drive to Missouri; I loved all the photographs as it really helped to "set the scene".
'On the Way Home' isn't written in the same style as the beloved 'Little House' books, but that is not to say it shouldn't be cherished too. This is an actual diary, not written in a children's story format. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, and doesn't take too long to get through either. Anyone can enjoy it, from age 9 to adult.
Laura kept this diary when she and Almanzo decided to move from South Dakota to Missouri, where they started an apple tree farm. So much good information and background is brought to light. I liked learning the fine details of their life at the time -- for example, Laura would always write down certain bits, like the time they started out each morning, and often a daily temperature. (I thought it was neat that they had a thermometer on their wagon!) They picked up a dog along the way and named it Fido. (I did have higher hopes that Laura's writer-imagination could have prompted another name, but anyways...) Plus, there's the rather interesting story of the $100 bill tucked away in the desk -- but you can find out all about that when you read it.
About half of 'On the Way Home' is Laura's diary notes -- the rest is written by Rose with supplementary information. Included are many photographs taken around the same time as the Wilder's drive to Missouri; I loved all the photographs as it really helped to "set the scene".
'On the Way Home' isn't written in the same style as the beloved 'Little House' books, but that is not to say it shouldn't be cherished too. This is an actual diary, not written in a children's story format. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, and doesn't take too long to get through either. Anyone can enjoy it, from age 9 to adult.
October 31, 2009
Movin' further along. This is a slim tome, indeed -- 100 pages, with at least 5-10 of those being pictures. It contains an intro and afterword by Laura's daughter, Rose, who attempts to contextualize the events of the journey from de Smet, SD to Mansfield, MS. The middle part is just Laura's diary from the trip. A lot of reports about how high the wheat is growing in places where they're traveling, the temperature in the wagon, and the suitability of different places to live. Neat to see the Wilders visiting big cities and their reports on them, but as we say in the world of music, this one is "for completists only."
November 29, 2007
I am such a Little House fan that I don't think I could ever give any of the books less than 4 stars. I'm not ashamed to say it: I am an adult, and the Little House books are still some of my favorites to read. This book is actually Laura's journal from her move to South Dakota to Missouri, which she wrote in everyday. The more I read these books, the more thankful I become that I was born when I was, rather than in the 1800's.
December 19, 2007
Aww, Laura Ingalls Wilder!
November 5, 2020
The actual diary of Laura Ingalls Wilder which she wrote on a trip from South Dakota to Missouri, with additional details provided by her daughter Rose.
May 21, 2020
With foreword and conclusion by Rose Wilder. This book is Laura's diary entries from the time they left De Smet, to go to Mansfield Missouri were they would build their dream home, and spend the rest of their lives.
This isn't as 'fun' as the Little House books, and I really missed the dialogue scenes, and the family dynamic, but it is still enjoyable.
We get a bit of insight into Laura's relationship with Almanzo. Rose appears infrequently throughout, but most of the diary entries are just factual accounts of where they were, and what they ate.
Overall, if you are a little House fan, I would definitely recommend, probably would be boring for younger readers.
This isn't as 'fun' as the Little House books, and I really missed the dialogue scenes, and the family dynamic, but it is still enjoyable.
We get a bit of insight into Laura's relationship with Almanzo. Rose appears infrequently throughout, but most of the diary entries are just factual accounts of where they were, and what they ate.
Overall, if you are a little House fan, I would definitely recommend, probably would be boring for younger readers.
June 10, 2024
Obviously, being mostly a travel journal, it wasn’t nearly as polished as the Little House books. But I could still see glimpses of the writer I know, especially in her descriptions of lovely sights on the way. It’s interesting to see what she found worth recording, which was largely the yields and prices of various farm goods, her impressions of the various towns they passed through, and the conditions of the weather and roads. Laura didn’t write all the way to the full end of the journey, and the tale is completed by Rose, from her childhood recollections. After reading all of the disasters of The First Four Years, I’m glad that this setback had a happier ending.
February 4, 2019
Mostly a diary of a road trip, from South Dakota to the Ozarks, where the Wilders settled with their little girl. For huge fans of LIW, I guess this is a better book than it was for me. I spent most of the time musing about how quickly the world changed after this. So I wasn't engaged in the story if I was thinking about other things. Without the historic photos, I would have been more bored.
January 14, 2021
The actual diary in this book was very short and not as detailed as I had hoped. Laura's daughter Rose, who edited and published the diary, amended that by adding her own memories surrounding the event which take up about the same amount of space in the book as the diary, but it is good to have as it provides a more complete narrative to the story of this momentous move.
January 13, 2025
This is the account of the Wilder family’s trek from South Dakota to Missouri as written by Laura in a daily journal. Her daughter Rose has filled in some information through her memories of the trip. I love that Rose made the historical account available to the public, especially for fans of the beloved Little House series. I had to read this one to complete my pioneer girl experience.
Highly recommend for Little House fans with an interest in historical daily life.
Highly recommend for Little House fans with an interest in historical daily life.
February 8, 2021
En udmærkede slutning, men ikke i nærheden af de “rigtige” Laura bøger.
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