Adoption on Little House on the Prairie

From the early seasons of Little House on the Prairie, adopted children played a role in daily life. From the Sanderson children (Season 2) through to Samuel in the movie Bless All the Dear Children, viewers watched as adopted children became family members and cherished loved ones. 

Photo from Radames Pera's (John Sanderson Edwards) Facebook page

The history of adoption in America isn't quite the rosy picture portrayed on Little House on the Prairie. Most adoptions were informal arrangements, leaving children with no formal rights. When a child or children lost their parents, family members or community members took them in as a matter of community responsibility or for labor needs.

Things began to change when Massachusetts passed the first adoption law in 1851, establishing child welfare as a factor in adoptions. The Children's Aid Society was established in 1853. It arranged trips, raised money, and obtained legal permission to relocate poor and homeless children from the cities to more rural areas of the country. These became known as Orphan Trains. 

Let's take a look at the adopted children from Walnut Grove, Winoka, Sleepy Eye, and Mankato as portrayed on Little House on the Prairie. 

John Jr., Carl, and Alicia Sanderson (Edwards)

In the Season 2, two-part episode, "Remember Me," Julia Sanderson discovers she is dying. Already a widow, she seeks Charles's help in finding a new home for her three children. After her death, Charles struggles to find a way to keep the children together. One family wants the two boys to help out on the farm. Harriet Oleson's rich cousin wants Alicia as a companion and heir. The thought of the children being split up leads Mr. Edwards to propose to Grace Snider to make a home for the Sanderson children in Walnut Grove. This is a move motivated by love, not necessity.

Albert (Quinn) Ingalls

In Season 5, the Ingalls family relocates to the city of Winoka in Dakota Territory, where their daughter Mary and future husband Adam Kendall will open a blind school ("As Long As We Are Together"). While there, they encounter Albert, a streetwise orphan who has decided to make it on his own. It doesn't take long for him to become part of the extended Ingalls family. When Charles and Caroline decide to head home to Walnut Grove in the episode "There's No Place Like Home," they invite Albert to join them. In Season 6, Miss Wilder assigns a project to the class ("The Family Tree"), which leads Albert to ask Charles to officially adopt him. After a few obstacles, Albert Quinn becomes Albert  Ingalls. 

James and Cassandra (Cooper) Ingalls 

Photo credit: NBC on Getty Images

Poor Charles is once again faced with the impossible task of finding a home for orphaned children when James and Cassandra Cooper lose their parents in a wagon accident while on a trip with Charles and Albert. Just like with the Sanderson children, it looks like James and Cassandra will go to separate homes until Charles and Caroline decide to fill their little house on Plum Creek with even more children. The official adoption is temporarily interrupted by rich Uncle Jed wanting to adopt them ("Uncle Jed," Season 8), forcing the case to court. Lots of crying from Cassandra and an unexpected medical issue have Uncle Jed reconsidering his plans. The Cooper children become part of the Ingalls family. Another adoption motivated by love and compassion. 

Nancy Oleson

Photo from Little House on the Prairie Facebook page

When Harriet and Nels receive word that Nellie and Percival are staying in New York after his father's passing, Harriet falls into a deep depression. With some encouragement from Doc Baker and after spending time with Cassandra Ingalls, the Olesons decide to adopt a child from the orphanage in Sleepy Eye. Harriet quickly turns Nancy into a similar-looking version of Nellie, but even Nellie at her worst wasn't Nancy. But Nels and Harriet loved that kid for sure, and who else could have put up with her antics? 

Jenny Wilder

Photo credit: Fandom

In Season 9, Royal Wilder returns to Walnut Grove. This time, he has his daughter Jenny with him. Now that his wife Millie has died (no hint of Myron and Rupert anywhere), and with a fatal heart condition hidden from his family, he wants Jenny to get to know Almanzo and Laura before he dies. After a hard period of adjustment and Jenny almost dying twice, Jenny remains with her aunt and uncle until they leave Walnut Grove for good when the town is blown up and move to Burr Oak to live with Charles and Caroline. While this adoption was one of necessity, the love the Wilders had for Jenny shone through in every moment. 

Sam (Norris)

In the last Christmas movie of the series, Bless All the Dear Children, Almanzo, Rose, Laura, and Mr. Edwards travel to Mankato to shop for Christmas. While there, Rose is kidnapped by Mrs. Norris, who has recently lost a baby. During the frantic search for their daughter, the Wilders discover a runaway orphan in their wagon. Samuel stays with them, but he knows the plan is to return him to the orphanage on their way back to Mankato. Once Rose is found at the Norrises' place, Samuel runs off to avoid going back to the orphanage. Patrick Norris helps with the search, which goes late into the night. The next morning, the Wilders and Mr. Edwards leave for home. The Norrises catch up with them on the road, offering to bring Samuel home to stay. Not a legal arrangement, but one that will bring much happiness to all of them. 

In the Little House on the Prairie world, adoption brought people together, expanded families, and brought much joy along the way. 

Favorite Little House on the Prairie Movie

After the series ended, three Little House on the Prairie movies aired between 1983 and 1984: "Look Back to Yesterday," "Bless All the Dear Children," and "The Last Farewell." The last two were aired out of order because "Bless All the Dear Children" is a Christmas episode. It aired the week before Christmas in 1984, whereas "The Last Farewell" aired in February 1984. Let's take a look at what these movies were about. Beware of spoilers if you haven't seen them. 

"Look Back to Yesterday" 

Charles plans a trip to Walnut Grove to help the local farmers organize an agricultural cooperative. With Albert planning to attend medical school, Charles decides he should join him to check out the University of Minnesota. Once in Walnut Grove, Albert's chronic nosebleeds worsen, and Charles brings him to Mankato, where they learn Albert has a fatal blood disorder. Albert begs Charles to bring him back to Walnut Grove to live out his final days. 

"Bless All the Dear Children"

While Mr. Montague rallies against the commercialization of Christmas, Jason Carter tries to earn money to buy gifts for his family. Meanwhile, Laura, Almanzo, and Mr. Edwards travel to Mankato with Rose to shop for Christmas. When Rose is kidnapped by a distraught woman who has lost a baby, the Wilders and Mr. Edwards frantically search for her. Along the way, they meet Samuel, a young orphan, hiding in their wagon. Back in Walnut Grove, Sarah and John Carter worry they won't have gifts for Jason and Jeb if the Wilders, who were also entrusted with their money, don't return in time. 

"The Last Farewell"

Charles and Caroline pay a visit to Laura and Almanzo, offering to stay at the little house on Plum Creek with Jeb and Jason Carter when their parents are away. When a ruthless land tycoon acquires the deed to all of Hero Township, the citizens of Walnut Grove are forced to either work their businesses for Mr. Lassiter or forfeit everything they have built through the years. This leads to a final confrontation between the townsfolk and Lassiter, with the Carters returning just in time to help. 

By far, my favorite of these three movies is "Look Back to Yesterday." Though it created one of the greatest conflicts in Landon's LHOP world (How could future Albert return to Walnut Grove as a doctor ("Home Again") if he dies and the town has been blown up?), it nicely, though tragically, wraps up Albert's storyline and reconnects him with his beloved sister Laura, the first member of the Ingalls family he met in Winoka, which eventually led to him becoming an Ingalls. 

While I wish we could have seen Karen Grassle as Caroline Ingalls in this episode, "Look Back to Yesterday" was an engaging storyline from start to finish. It seems odd she is not there, because Charles and Caroline were partners committed to each other and their children. Fans know Caroline would have wanted to be there.

Melissa Gilbert gives an amazing performance as Laura, a caring sister who struggles to accept her brother's fate. She and Dean Butler's Almanzo also share a sweet moment when Laura tells him about the blood brother badges. As a show that rarely focuses on the past, Laura's treasured memories give meaning to Albert's triumph and heart to the loving relationship that they created through the years. 

Which of these three is your favorite?

Little House on the Prairie Netflix Premiere Coming July 9

Do you know where you will be July 9? I will be sitting with my tea and laptop to stream the Netflix premiere of Little House on the Prairie. This new adaptation has already been renewed for a second season. Check out the Tundum article for more information regarding the cast, the plot, and more!

Which Areas of the World Read Laura's Little Houses

 

Occasionally, I check to see where this blog's traffic is coming from. Most recent stats show that the most readers of Laura's Little Houses originate from the United States. That was a change that started the last time I posted this information. After the United States, the most readers come from Indonesia, Singapore, Germany, and Hong Kong. 

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read Laura's Little Houses!

Most Favorite Episode from Each Season of Little House on the Prairie (Seasons 7 - 9)

Continuing to share my favorite episode of each season of Little House on the Prairie, this time covering Seasons 7, 8, and 9.

Season 7 - "Come, Let Us Reason Together"

Percival's parents visit Walnut Grove as they anticipate the birth of their first grandchild. Harriet Oleson and Benjamin Cohen argue over whether the baby will be raised Jewish or Christian, which upsets the happy couple and leads to a unique way to settle things. 

Why it's my favorite from Season 7: Choosing a Season 7 favorite seemed like an impossible task. I could have chosen any of the five I mentioned in this post. What made the decision for me was that I love Nellie and Percival together. They are adorable, and the actors have fabulous chemistry. Percival's dedication to Nellie never wavers. When she fears his parents won't like her, he reassures her. When the arguing between his father and Nellie's mother becomes too much for his wife, he protects her. And Percival reminds all the parents of the importance of staying focused on what faith is truly about. 

Season 8 - "Days of Sunshine, Days of Shadow"

Almanzo's recovery from diphtheria is hampered by a stroke that paralyses him. The arrival of Eliza Jane delays Almanzo's progress, causing rifts between Beth and Manly and between Laura and her sister-in-law. After the birth of Rose, Eliza Jane's plans deepen the divide, but when it seems darkest, Almanzo faces some hard truths that lead to a remarkable change.

Why it's my favorite from Season 8: I often note this episode as my favorite in the series. Dean Butler's portrayal of a man in the depths of despair is outstanding. Not that Melissa Gilbert's acting is anything less than stellar, but the character of Almanzo is generally a happy, even-keeled guy until this happens. He admits to Laura that he can't believe how horribly wrong life has gone. He tells his sister to go away because he is praying to die. To watch Butler dig deep into the effects of depression on Almanzo is something unexpected for viewers. Then, to watch Almanzo turn it around when Laura is at her breaking point displays Manly's love for his wife, and this becomes the catalyst for his recovery. 

Season 9 - "A Child with No Name"

The Wilders welcome a son to their family, but his sudden death finds a grieving Laura blaming Doc Baker. Soon, the entire town turns against him. When Rose comes down with smallpox, Doc Baker works night and day caring for her despite Laura's misgivings.

Why it's my favorite from Season 9: Maybe I like to see the Wilders in crisis mode. One's heart can't help but break for Laura and Almanzo when they lose their son. This episode starts off lightheartedly, with the family trying to figure out what to name the baby and experiencing more first-time parent jitters than they did with Rose--which Laura justifies because of her family's history and the lack of boys born to the Ingalls family. After that, it becomes a story of survival--for Doc Baker's reputation and Rose Wilder's life. The conversation between Harriet and Nels when he is angry over her shunning his friend is intense. She is in total Mama Bear mode. It was great to see the residents of Walnut Grove congregate in the center of town to convince Doctor Baker to stay. 

That brings us to the end of the series. We will discuss the three post-series movies next.