What happened to Carrie in Little House on the Prairie? A look into her life

In the heartwarming tapestry of pioneer life that Laura Ingalls Wilder so vividly weaves in her Little House series, each thread tells the story of resilience, adventure, and the enduring strength of family bonds.

While Laura, Mary, and Pa Ingalls often capture the spotlight with their spirited tales, there lies within their family saga a quieter, yet equally compelling narrative – that of Carrie Ingalls.

As we peel back the layers of her life, both real and portrayed, we discover a woman of remarkable fortitude whose contributions to her family and the towns she called home are a testament to the unsung heroines of Little House on the Prairie.

Who is Carrie in Little House on the Prairie?

Carrie Celestia Ingalls, subsequently known by her married name in real life as Carrie Ingalls Swanzey, was the third child of Charles and Caroline Ingalls. She was born in Montgomery County, Kansas, on August 3, 1870.

Carrie was always the family baby before Grace was born. Since Carrie was too young to attend school, she stayed at home with Caroline when the Ingalls family first relocated to Walnut Grove.

Carrie did, however, attend school when she was old enough.

What happened to Carrie in Little House on the Prairie?

Carrie lived in Keystone for the rest of her life, dying there on June 12, 1946, at the age of 76.

Some of the most significant events in her life—such as meeting and marrying David Swanzey in 1912 and raising her two stepchildren, Mary and Harold—took place in Keystone.

The portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are etched into the enormous granite face of Mount Rushmore, a landmark that made Keystone famous.

Carrie’s stepson was one of the 400 laborers who turned the mountain into a piece of art, while Carrie’s husband helped artist Gutzon Borglum seek spots in the Black Hills.

The less notable Ingalls sister, Carrie, had a long life and was an impressive, confident girl by her own doing.

Keystone Historical Museum distinguishes her existence with a birthday festivity that incorporates cake, and lemonade, making that look like those from 1899, and an exuberant outfit contest utilizing pieces of clothing from the last part of the 1800s and mid-1900s.

Carrie was brought up in De Smet, finished her teacher planning program, and momentarily filled in as a teacher prior to understanding this was not how she needed to make ends meet.

After finishing her education, she worked as an apprentice in the printing trade for the town’s weekly newspaper, the Leader, which subsequently merged with the De Smet News when she was 19 years old.

She developed into a gifted journalist and printer who was proficient in all facets of the industry, including binding, editing, writing, publishing, and melting lead into type.

Due to her abilities, Carrie was finally hired by E.L. Senn, the owner of many newspapers in South Dakota. This position gave her excellent chances for travel and journalism, which was a bonus for her since she loved to travel.

Before accepting this job, she had actually done a lot of traveling and spent a brief time living in Colorado and Wyoming between 1905 and 1907 in an effort to find a climate that might help her sinus and lung issues.

Rejuvenated, Carrie made her way back to South Dakota, where she earned the right to claim a homestead in Indian territory close to the town of Topbar. There, she resided in a modest tar-paper shanty.

What is Little House on the Prairie?

The Ingalls family, who resides on a farm on Plum Creek close to Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s–1890s, is the subject of the American Western historical drama television series Little House on the Prairie.

Michael Landon, Lindsay, and Sydney Greenbush twins, Karen Grassle, Melissa Gilbert, Melissa Sue Anderson, and Carrie Ingalls are the portrayals of Charles, Caroline, Laura, Mary, and Carrie, respectively.

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s best-selling Little House book series served as a vague inspiration for the television series.