Almanzo James Wilder was born on February 13, 1857 and passed away on October 23, 1949. He was married to Laura Ingalls Wilder and they had a daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. Almanzo Wilder was the fifth of six children to James and Angeline Wilder on their farm in Burke, New York. The Wilder family left Burke in 1870, moving west. They settled in Minnesota. In 1879, Wilder and his older brother Royal and sister Eliza Jane moved to Dakota Territory, obtaining claims near what would later become the town of De Smet, South Dakota. Almanzo chose his homestead in De Smet that he first met Laura Ingalls. In 1882, Laura accepted her first teaching position. She received her teaching certificate and taught to help her family financially. Laura continued to teach until she married Almanzo on August 25, 1885.
Almanzo received a deed prosperity on his homestead claim north of De Smet, which is where Laura and Almanzo lived. On December 5, 1886, their first child was born, Rose Wilder. In 1889, Laura gave birth to a son who tragically died 12 days after his birth before his parents could name him. One theory today as cause of his death was due to Laura (and Almanzo) having had diphtheria in 1888. As a result of Almanzo having diphtheria and returning to work on the farm too soon (and against doctor’s orders), Almanzo suffered a mild stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed. In time, he regained use of his legs, but not fully. He walked with a cane the rest of his life.
Circa October, 1891, Laura and Almanzo moved Westville, Florida, where Almanzo’s brother lived. They did so in hopes the climate would aid in Almanzo’s health, but found it didn’t. In 1892, they returned to De Smet, purchasing a home. In 1894, they moved to Mansfield, Missouri, naming the house Rocky Ridge Farm. Initially, their only income was selling wagon loads of fire wood for 50 cents. They planted apple trees, but the trees didn’t develop fruit for several years. With the financial aid of Almanzo’s parents, they added to their property, eventually accruing 200 acres. They expanded to poultry, dairy farm, in addition to their apple orchard. Over the span of 20 years, Almanzo built a 10-room home.