Home, Family, and Writing

Laura and Manly had lived on Rocky Ridge for thirty- five years when they finally paid what they owed for the land. In 1930, Laura decided to write her autobiography because she thought that her memories were to good to lose. Harper & Brothers decided to publish it in 1931 as a children's book. In June of the same year, Laura and Manly went to visit Grace in De Smet, as Ma died in 1924 and Mary in 1928, and drove through the prairie to see Pa's old homestead, Spirit Lake, and their old farm. Then they drove to Keystone, South Dakota to see Carrie and Mount Rushmore. Laura's book, Little House in the Big Woods, was published in 1932 when she was sixty- five. Harper & Brothers wanted a third story, too, as her books became a big hit, so Laura wrote Manly's story; it was published in 1933 as Farmer Boy. In 1935, Little House on the Prairie was published, and so was On the Banks of Plum Creek in 1937. After Rose left for Connecticut in 1937, Laura was requested to attend a book fair in Detroit to answer questions and sign autographs. In 1939, By the Shores of Silver Lake was published as a Newbery Honor Book. After all of her successes, Laura continued to write until her hand ached.
After Laura and Manly's trip to De Smet for the Old Settlers Day, they traveled no more. The Wilders settled down for quiet, peaceful days on Rocky Ridge where Laura could continue writing and live a fruitful life. The Long Winter was published in 1940 describing Laura and her family's first blizzard in De Smet, and her seventh book, Little Town on the Prairie, was published a year later. Her last book, These Happy Golden Years, was finally published when she was seventy-six, and she told Harper & Brothers, "I want to live my life, not write about it." - Laura Ingalls Wilder. Eleven years of writing sent Laura and Manly into retirement. They enjoyed friends, visits and letters from fans, and said good bye to Laura's family as Grace died in 1941, and Carrie in 1946. Then came the most sorrowful day on Rocky Ridge: Manly died in 1949 at the age of ninety-two from two heart attacks. This devastating event left Laura and her fans heartbroken.