Grace Ingalls Dow: What Happened to Baby Grace?

Grace Ingalls Dow

Grace Ingalls Dow is the youngest of Laura Ingalls Wilder's siblings. In fact, of the four Ingalls sisters, Grace is the one I hear or read the least about. I wonder if it's because she was so young when Laura was married and maybe they didn't spend as much time together growing up as she did with Mary and Carrie.

I was curious about Grace so I did a little research about her to find out about her life as a child and young lady in DeSmet and, also,  her married years.

Grace Ingalls Dow

Grace Pearl Ingalls was born May 23, 1877 in Burr Oak, IA.  Although there are books written about Laura Ingalls Wilder's Iowa years, none of them were written by Mrs. Wilder herself as she omitted this period of her life completely from the books. It was during this period of time the Ingalls family was managing a hotel and Mrs. Wilder didn't feel it an appropriate image to portray of her fictional family.

In any event, Grace was either not born or a baby/child during the period of time we remember from the "Little House" series (she was 8 when Laura married Almanzo) and so we didn't really gather much information about her personality or about Grace Ingalls as a child or woman. However, Grace did attend school in DeSmet, and, as expected, she aspired to become a school teacher as her older sisters did. Grace attended Redfield College and earned a "Normal Course," which is apparently the certification awarded to teachers at that time.

From what I could gather, Redfield College was a Christian-based institute of learning, and the church may have helped to defray any costs. As Grace was an active participant in Sunday School - attending and teaching - this may have been how she learned of and attended the college. It bears noting that Grace and Mary are the only Ingalls sisters to attend college.

Grace Ingalls: Teacher and Writer

After earning her teacher's certification, Grace taught at several area schools but she never strayed too far from DeSmet. In addition to teaching in DeSmet, Grace also taught at the Esmond Township School just outside of Mansfield, SD.

Grace also dabbled in writing, contributing to local newspapers on a freelance basis. She was a correspondent for The Huronite and The DeSmet News for many years. Both Grace and Carrie contributed to The News' 50th Anniversary edition.

Grace Ingalls: Wife

It was while she was teaching in the Mansfield, SD area that Grace Ingalls met Nathan Dow. They were married in the parlor of Charles and Caroline Ingalls' home in DeSmet on October 16, 1901.

 I want to pause here to say that it's probably safe to assume that if Grace was married in her family's living room, both Charles and Caroline were in attendance, making hers the only wedding of their children they attended. That must have been a very special occasion. Grace was 24 and Nate was 42.

The following is the marriage announcement of Grace Ingalls to Nathan Dow:

Grace Ingalls and Nate Dow Marriage Announcement Dow-Ingalls

At the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and The happy event was of a quiet nature, only the relatives of the contracting parties being present.

The bride is a young lady who has grown from childhood in this city and enjoys the respect and confidence of the entire community. She is possessed of all the womanly traits that enter into the general make up of a [illegible] and loving wife. For sometime she has been one of the leading lady teachers in this county and has met with splendid success wherever she has been employed. We are truly sorry to have her leave our social circles where she has always been an industrious and cheerful worker, but we are glad to know she will remain in vicinity, living at Manchester. 

The groom is one of the industrious and prosperous farmers south of Manchester where he has the friendship and confidence of his neighbors for his upright dealings and honest character in every day life. He is a young man who by careful and business like investments has secured for himself the comofrts of life and is enjoying prosperity. They will make their home on the farm for the present. 

The NEWS joins with the large circle of friends of thie esteemable couple in wishing them abundant joy and happiness in the future.

The Dows had no children. They moved briefly to the Oregon coast as they hoped the climate would help Nate's severe allergies and asthma. At one point in their marriage, they rented their farm to another family and lived with Caroline and Mary Ingalls. (Charles Ingalls passed away in 1902.)

Grace Ingalls: Later Years

When Laura Ingalls Wilder was writing the "Little House" series of books, Grace helped her to fill in some of her memory and described in vivid detail about the Dakota wildflowers, of which Mrs. Wilder had no recollection.

Grace Ingalls Dow was a social woman participating in many area clubs and activities including the local chapter of the Ladies' Aide.

In 1924, Caroline Quiner Ingalls passed away so Grace and Nate Dow moved into the Ingalls home to care for sister Mary. After Mary passed away in 1928, while visiting sister Carrie Ingalls Swanzey, Grace and Nate moved back to the Manchester area.

Grace Ingalls: Death

Like her siblings, Grace Ingalls Dow suffered from diabetes. In 1932, she was hospitalized for "severe diabetes." Her sister Carrie came to stay for a bit during this time, bringing a copy of "Little House in the Big Woods " for her sister to enjoy.

Grace Ingalls Dow passed away November 10, 1941 in Manchester, SD,  from complications of diabetes. She is buried in the DeSmet cemetery.

Grace Ingall's Dow's death notice:

Obituary for Grace Ingalls Dow 

Mrs. Nate Dow passed away at her home in Manchester at 11:00 Monday evening following a lingering illness. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon at the house and at the Manchester Presbyterian Church, the Rev. D. Van Houte officiating. Mrs. Dow had attended school in De Smet and Redfield College and had taught school in Manchester Township She was active in the Ladies Aid and club work and was a local writer. Pallbearers were Lucian Howard, Howard Rowen, J.L. Towberman, Harvey Marx, E.C. Brinkley, and Alfred Anderson. Left to mourn her passing are husband Nate Dow, two sisters, Mrs. Carrie Swanzey of Keystone and Mrs. Laura Wilder of Mansfield, Mo., and a niece, Rose Wilder Lane.

One thing I want to mention about the children of Charles and Caroline Ingalls is that they were all smart, accomplished women. They valued education and hard work and it shows. All of the Ingalls can be considered role models for young ladies of today.





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