Laura Ingalls' brother

It was six months after Laura had turned 9 years old.  Laura and her family had celebrated at the birth of Charles Frederick, the first boy born into the family in November.  Laura was probably very excited to have a little brother; one who would share in some of her "tomboy" ways.  Charles was probably very happy to have a son, who might help in the homesteading efforts as he grew up; and someone who might share his love of playing the fiddle.  Caroline, his mother, no doubt shared such enthusiastic hopes for her newborn child.  But it wasn't to be.  On August 27, 1876 little Freddie, as they called him, died.  He had struggled with poor health since the time of his birth.  So, at age 9 months and 26 days, he departed this life.  He was buried by a relative's home, in Troy, Minnesota.

Charles and Caroline went on to have another gift from God, born in May the following year, Grace Pearl.  But no other son was had by them.  It must have been quite a blow to them to know that they would not have a male to carry on their heritage.

In some way, Laura, writing her books may have made up for this loss; since she brought a lasting legacy to the family name.  But it was still a devastating time for them at the time.  Caroline was never to get over the loss.  In later years she lamented, "Everything would have been different if Freddie had lived."

Laura didn't write about this sad time in their family.  Little Freddie would have lived during the period covered in Laura's books, "On the Banks of Plum Creek" and "By the Shores of Silver Lake". 

It does cause one to wonder what life for the family would have been like, had he lived.  No doubt he would have been written into Laura's account of their pioneer life.  Maybe the subsequent TV show would have cast Matthew Laborteaux as Freddie, instead of the fictional Albert character.  These are things to ponder, if you are an avid "Little House" fan!

Your comments are welcomed here.  Thanks.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls