The Young Pioneers(1978)

The Young Pioneers is a three-episode Western series that follows newlyweds Molly and David Beaton as they settle in the Dakota Territory during the 1870s. Linda Purl and Roger Kern star as the young couple navigating frontier life, hardship, and community bonds. Based on novels by Rose Wilder Lane—daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder—The Young Pioneers shares the same literary roots as the beloved Little House on the Prairie. The ABC series aired on Sunday evenings in April 1978 and features a supporting cast including Robert Hays, Mare Winningham, and A Martinez. The three episodes explore themes of hope, resilience, and belonging as the Beatons and their neighbors face the challenges of building a life on the American frontier.