Travel to Steadman

The Ingalls lived and worked in the Masters Hotel for 3 months, then left the hotel business because they did not think they were being treated fairly. They moved 2 buildings to the south and lived above Kimball’s Grocery Store. Charles started a feed mill, grinding the farmers’ corn and wheat with his horses. Between the hotel and Kimball’s store stood a saloon. After a fire in the saloon, Charles moved his family to a red-brick house at the edge of Burr Oak. Charles sold his share of the feed mill, and began working as a day laborer. It was in this rented house that the youngest of the Ingalls, Grace, was born in May of 1877.

The Steadman family of five slept in the room behind the tavern. The room was also used as the office of the hotel.

The schoolhouse is pictured in the center. It was a large two-story brick building, with two teachers. ‘I liked school that winter. I learned to sing the multiplication tables, and was put in the Fifth Reader. Mary and I enjoyed our reading lessons very much and used to practice them every evening at home.’ (Pioneer Girl, Laura’s unpublished manuscript)
Pictured on the right is Mrs. Starr, who asked Caroline if she and Dr. Starr could adopt Laura as their own daughter.

Next: The Steadman Room