Mary Ingalls
Mary Amelia Ingalls | |
|---|---|
 Mary Ingalls | |
| Born | Mary Amelia Ingalls January 10, 1865 near Pepin, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 1928 (aged 63) Keystone, South Dakota, U.S. |
| Parent(s) | Caroline Ingalls Charles Ingalls |
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. She was the older sister of author Laura Ingalls Wilder, who is best known for her Little House on the Prairie book series.
Biography
At the age of 14, Ingalls suffered an illness—thought to be scarlet fever—that caused her to lose her eyesight.[1] A 2013 study published in the journal Pediatrics, concluded it was actually viral meningoencephalitis that caused Mary's blindness, based on evidence from first-hand accounts and newspaper reports of Mary's illness as well as relevant school registries and epidemiologic data on blindness and infectious diseases.[2][3][4] Between 1881 and 1889, Mary attended the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School in Vinton, Iowa.
The historical record is silent as to why Mary did not attend school during one year in that period, but she did finish the seven-year course of study in 1889 and graduated. She then returned home to De Smet, South Dakota and lived with her parents until their deaths. Mary contributed to the family income by making fly nets for horses. Later, she lived with her sister, Grace, and then her other sister, Carrie. She died on October 20, 1928 at the age of 63, as a result of pneumonia and complications from a stroke. She is buried at De Smet Cemetery.
In popular culture
Ingalls was portrayed in the television series Little House on the Prairie by actress Melissa Sue Anderson.
References
- ^ 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.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Dell'Antonia, KJ (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 and World Report. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
Further reading
- Zochert, Donald (1976). Laura - The Life of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Avon Books. ISBN 0-380-01636-2.
External links
- "Mary Ingalls Era 1877-1889." Vinton School for the Blind.
- Mary Ingalls at Find a Grave
- Bixler, Jennifer (February 4, 2013). "The Real Reason Mary Ingalls Went Blind". CNN.