Who is the most eligible bachelor in Walnut Grove? Quite a few on this list are already married in the show, but in this list we'll pretend as if they aren't. Here are the candidates and also my own thought process. I will rate them 1-10. Feel free to add your opinions. I might add more candidates as I think of them.
Charles Ingalls
Rating: 6.5/10
Obviously, Charles is already happily married, but let's say Caroline wasn't in the picture... maybe she didn't make it when she got gangreen. I have mixed feelings about Charles. I feel like he's proud as a peacock about his looks and he might hold you to his standards. Even if he didn't do that, the man is overemotional about a lot of things, and seems prone to stress/anger. I also feel like this guy would start to eat you out of house and home. Like you spend 6hrs preparing dinner, and expect to have leftovers, but he devours the meal and you have to quickly plan for the next day. Charles seems like the type of guy who expects a 4-course meal every single day and acts butthurt if there isn't a pot roast on the table when he comes home from the fields. Despite these flaws, he has a good work ethic and that can be crucial to surviving in those days. He seems pretty good with kids but I feel like he definitely favors sons over daughters (I mean he was so desperate for a son he got one from underneath a porch for pities sake). If you could put up with his emotional immaturity at times, he'd probably be an alright choice but I feel like it might end up in divorce.
Mr. Edwards
Rating: 3/10
Mr. Edwards seems temperamental. He may seem nice at first, and acts like he's good with kids, but little by little you would see cracks in his facade. I think he hides a lot of issues with booze. He also gives up too easily. Seems like one day some of the farm equipment would stop working and he'd just throw in the towel and chalk it up as an excuse to drink himself into oblivion. I also don't think he'd have good hygiene like Jake Galahal.
Nells Oleson
Rating: 8/10
Nells has a good business sense and obviously has money, and heavens knows you need cold hard cash in these trying times. I think the downside is that he's too soft and might extend loans when you can't afford to. Plus, as we saw with Mollie, he might struggle with being loyal. Despite that, I feel like if you treated one another with respect he wouldn't have many (if any) reasons to pack his bindle and leave. Nells would be a good choice for financial stability, and he doesn't adhere to gender roles (e.g., he has no issue cooking or cleaning, and allows Harriet to work). He also is slow to anger, and arguably has the nicest house in Walnut Grove. Nells would be a solid choice, if not the best choice.
Doc Baker
Rating: 7.5/10
I feel like Doc Baker would be a solid choice, but like Nells, he's too soft. Do you really want to expect a paycheck and end up with eggs and milk that will spoil before the month is up? I think not. As we saw in Doctor's Lady, he's also getting up there in years. (Harriet said it not me). Despite this, he seems pretty well-rounded emotionally and you'd basically have free medical care, and access to medications year-round if you needed them. I feel like Doc Baker is a solid choice if you don't mind looking at that hat/suit combo every day.
Reverand Alden
Rating: 3/10
Honestly, the thought of hearing Reverand Alden slip verses and platitudes into every conversation is enough to drive most anyone mad. I feel like he can be pretty self-righteous at times and would probably be a control freak and a picky eater. He's the oldest one on this list, so you have to factor that in, too. I have no idea if he has money. On one hand, he seems well off but he also seems broke. I don't think he ever got a new suit in 9 seasons worth of content. I feel like he'd be cheap too and would justify his own spending but would micro-manage his S.O's spending. I wouldn't choose Reverand Alden even if he had money.
Almanzo Wilder
Rating: 4.5/10
Almanzo seems like a control freak who is prone to jealousy, and is very uptight about gender roles. Yes, he works, but he uses this as an excuse to justify his immaturity and finds excuses to whine about anything. As we saw, he threw a hissy fit when Laura wanted to work, and he got angry and pouted when she went against his wishes. This alone is enough to put his score pretty low. Like Charles, this guy has a huge appetite and unlike Charles, is a picky eater. He sulks when there isn't a freshly baked pie or dessert on the table waiting for him when he comes home from work. He also seems like he'd have a wandering eye and was obviously babied by his sister Eliza Jane. Looks-wise he's average but that Luke Skywalker hair isn't cutting it. If you want a man baby to take care of Almanzo would be the choice for you.
CONCLUSION
The pickings are slim but after weighing the pros and cons, I feel like Doc Baker or Nells are the winners here. Both men seem finically stable and both seem well-rounded emotionally. There are little to no instances where these two have emotional outbursts (anger), and I feel like both would be supportive of your decision to work if you wanted to. Plus, both cook, and I imagine both are good with keeping the home tidy. With the others, there's just too much emotional baggage to deal with. Life on the prairie is hard enough, why make it harder by dealing with emotional immaturity? Thanks for reading, and feel free to share your thoughts as well. Don't attack me for my opinions though. You're entitled to yours. Thx for reading.