In De Smet, Laura first worked in town as a seamstress in the store across Main Street on the northeast side, where she did hand-sewing that a machine could not do, such as buttonholes. She preferred being at home with Ma and her sisters rather than working among strangers, but the wages would help Mary go to college. She earned twenty-five cents a day, six days a week, all summer long. A census of 1880 does not mention a Mr. Clancy but instead lists a Mr. Clayson, a storekeeper, with his wife, children, and mother-in-law, Mrs. White, and Laura had changed his name. Mr. Clancy was one of the new merchants in town and had brought his mother-in-law, Mrs. White, to help with the store. Across Main Street Laura looked toward the Mead Hotel, Wilder Feed Store, and Harthorn's Grocery, and the site where De Smet Farm Mutual Insurance stands today later held Munger's Cafe, Lorane's Cafe, Lou's Hatchery, a barber and beauty-shop, and a bakery.