Image Copyright 2007 Cheryl K. Whitlock

Lake Pepin
Pepin, WI

Pepin, Wisconsin is where the Little House® stories began. It is the birthplace of Laura Elizabeth Ingalls on 7 February 1867. Laura was the second daughter born to Charles Phillip Ingalls and Caroline Quiner Ingalls. Daughter Mary Amelia was born on 10 January 1865.

The Ingalls family lived in Pepin twice. The first time being when Laura was born until she was almost two years old. After selling the Pepin land in 1868, the Ingalls family moved to Chariton County, Missouri for a very short while. They had purchased land there, but for some reason they did not stay for very long. In 1869, they moved on to Independence, Kansas in Rutland Township for approximately one year. In 1871, Charles received word that the man who bought the Pepin property did not want to stay there and returned ownership back to the Ingalls family. The Ingalls family returned and lived in Pepin until around 1873 when they left Pepin for the last time, heading west to Minnesota.

Pepin is the setting for Laura's first book, "Little House in the Big Woods"® The book is actually based on the second time the Ingalls family lived there, right before moving to Walnut Grove, MN

Image Copyright 2007 Cheryl K. Whitlock

Replica Cabin near Pepin, WI - Location of Little House in the Big Woods©

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