Laura’s Cousin

Imagine picking up a copy of Little House in the Big Woods and reading it for the very first time. Imagine reading about the sugaring-off dance at Grandpa’s, and the jigging contest between Grandma and Uncle George.

And then imagine, just for a moment, that you are reading about your own family.

That’s how it was for young Beth Ingalls, who was asked by her high school classmates if she was related to Laura Ingalls. Beth had never read the Little House books, but she went home and asked her grandfather. “Oh, sure,” he replied. “Laura is my cousin.”

Hiram Leroy Ingalls, Beth’s grandfather, was indeed Laura’s first cousin. His father Hiram Lemuel Ingalls was Charles’ (Pa’s) younger brother. That makes the Grandma and Grandpa of the Big Woods Beth’s great-great-grandparents.

Beth read the books after discovering the family connection, but it wasn’t until about fifteen years ago that she really began to devote herself to learning more about her family history. “My Great-Grandpa Hiram was in the Civil War and played the bugle,” Beth relates. “We had his Civil War rifle hanging on our wall for many years.” The rifle is now in the possession of one of Beth’s cousins.

“Waves of sadness came over me as I walked through the cemetery last summer because I wished I had known them personally, not just heard the stories about them,” reminisced Beth.

Click here to see the graves of many Ingalls family members, buried in the Orange Cemetery in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Beth’s uncle, Bill Ingalls, had the newer stones placed on the previously unmarked graves.

Beth Ingalls-Leisses and Dorothy Ebert

In recent years, Beth has diligently worked to share her family’s legacy with others. Clothed in prairie attire and accompanied by her able assistant Dorothy Ebert, Beth presents to schools and other groups and organizations, showing pictures of the Ingalls family, talking about pioneer life and demonstrating the use of period items, and also displaying her collection of autographs and photos from the stars of the “Little House on the Prairie” television series, the Disney miniseries, and the musical.

One of Beth’s most exciting moments occurred last October when she went to the Guthrie Theater to see the Little House musical, and was escorted backstage after the show to meet Melissa Gilbert and the rest of the cast, who reportedly were as eager and excited to meet with Beth as she was with them.

Beth does not charge for local presentations in the Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, area, and is even willing to travel within reason (reimbursement of travel expenses is appreciated). Beth explains, “I do this to keep children interested in her books and to know that there really was a Laura. I always explain to the children how I’m related and their eyes get big and the whole room grows silent… then I have their attention for the next hour.”

Beth enjoys asking the children at her presentations what they would do with this chamberpot. After giving answers such as bake beans in it, or use it as a gravy bowl, the children are horrified to learn its real purpose.

This June, Laura Ingalls Wilder will be inducted into the “Walk of Fame” in Shenandoah, Iowa; a plaque in her honor will be placed on the sidewalk alongside other famous Iowans. Beth Ingalls-Leisses has been invited to participate on Laura’s behalf. “I really feel honored to be doing this and hope that I represent the Ingalls family in the manner it deserves.”

Beth has come a long way from the young girl who had never read the Little House books and had no idea she was related to their author. There are many Ingalls descendants still living today, and there are many people spreading their love of Laura Ingalls Wilder to others around them. But Beth is unique in that she is both, making her a real treasure in the Little House world.