Frances Lynch McGuire was born April 18, 1869, in Escanaba, Michigan, where her father, a Civil War veteran, was working in the lumber camps. News of the wonderful Iowa prairie country came from an uncle who had already settled there. The Lynch family moved in 1877 to a farm near the little town of Adair, Iowa. She graduated from Adair County Normal School, and afterwards taught at the Chestnut County School until her marriage to Patrick Henry McGuire. Four children were born to them: Eugene, Nicolete, Gertrude, and James. While living in Des Moines, Mr. McGuire became very ill, and Mrs. McGuire obtained a position with the Iowa Homestead, a farm paper. In 1906 she purchased the Iowa Farmer, for which she wrote the editorials, acted as business manager, and contributed material. When her husband had regained his health, she sold the magazine in 1914. The McGuires moved to Los Angeles, but it was difficult to stay away from children, grandchildren, and friends in Des Moines, and the McGuires returned to make it their permanent home. Mrs. McGuire died in 1947. Wagon to a Star was illustrated by the McGuire's daughter, Gertrude Williamson.