- "Mary Ingalls" was a character in 'Little House on the Prairie'
- How did the character die?
- This is what we know
How was "Mary Ingalls'" cause of death incorporated into the series 'Little House on the Prairie'? The series is set in 19th-century America and shows a family's everyday farm life, which is often fraught with difficulties.
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Which now-famous star was NOT on the show as a child?
The true story behind 'Little House on the Prairie' is based on the diary entries of the family member Laura Ingalls Wilder. In the series, however, some incidents have been changed. However, the fate of "Mary Ingalls" - in the series and in real life - was not easy in both cases.
At the age of only 14, the real Mary went blind. As it turned out later, this was probably a consequence of previous meningitis. In the series, "Mary" went blind a little later - scarlet fever was also named as the cause.
Were the blindness and "Mary Ingalls'" cause of death related?
Neither was "Mary Ingalls'" cause of death. But she had to live without her sight ever since, which was not to return until her death. The "real" Mary Ingalls eventually lived with her parents until she passed away.
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Through The Years
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Mary Ingalls herself died in 1928 at the age of 63 as a result of pneumonia. She spent her last days with her sister Carrie Ingalls Swanzey. The fate of "Mary Ingalls" in 'Little House on the Prairie' was portrayed a little differently.
"Mary Ingalls'" cause of death is not addressed in series
In the show, "Mary Ingalls'" cause of death was not a part of the show. The series 'Little House on the Prairie' ended with the residents burning down "Walnut Grove" in order not to give their property to the president of the land reclamation company.
The family members then scattered around the world. "Mary Ingalls" was also blind in the series. However, she fell in love with "Adam Kendall", a teacher at her school for the blind, who was also blind. The two became a couple and got married.
"Mary Ingalls," who was played by Melissa Sue Anderson in'Little House on the Prairie' had to cope with some strokes of fate. She suffered a miscarriage and another son had a fatal accident.
"Adam Kendall" eventually regained his sight, graduated from law school, and practiced law. "Mary Ingalls" and "Adam Kendall" eventually moved to New York and lived together there. "Mary Ingalls" remained blind in the series - the story surrounding "Adam" and her children was purely fictional.
The death of "Mary Ingalls" had not been dealt with within the series storyline.
