Westville in the Past

In 1891, Laura and Almanzo Wilder left Almanzo's parents' home in Spring Valley, Minnesota, and travelled to Westville, Florida. Laura's cousin, Peter Franklin Ingalls, his wife Mollie, and son Alex resided in Westville, and encouraged Laura and her family to move there.

There was hopes that the weather would help Almanzo's legs, but Laura was unable to tolerate the humidness of the Florida weather. After only a few months, the Wilder family returned once again to De Smet.

Laura's daughter Rose later wrote a short story about the time the family spent in Westville, entitled "Inocence" and can be read in the Little House Sampler.