The Real Nellie Oleson, Laura’s Prairie Frenemy

By | April 11, 2019

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Alison Arngrim played Nellie Oleson in the TV series Little House on the Prairie. Source: (NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images)

If you were a fan of the Little House series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder or a fan of the 1970s TV show, Little House on the Prairie, then you no doubt remember Laura’s frenemy, Nellie Oleson, portrayed by Alison Arngrim on the TV show. The original mean girl, Nellie and her meddling mother were a constant source of aggravation for Laura and the rest of the Ingalls family, even their faithful dog, Jack. Nellie appeared in several of Wilder’s autobiographical books, first as a spoiled little rich girl and then as a wily teen trying to steal away Laura’s beau. Let’s take a look at the real Nellie Oleson who inspired the character in Laura’s books and on the television series. 

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Arngrim as Laura's nemesis. Source: (visiontv.ca)

Nellie’s Name Wasn’t Oleson

Only two times in her writing did Wilder purposefully change the names of the real people she wrote about. Both times was because she was portraying those people in a negative light and didn’t want to offend them. One of them was Nellie Oleson, whose name was actually Nellie Owens. The other was the Brewster family, Lew, and Lib and their son, Johnny. Laura roomed with them on the snowbound prairie during her first teaching contract and described them as depressed, sullen, and prone to angry outbursts. The Brewsters were based on real-life Louis and Elizabeth Bouchie.