It was a cold, windy, dusty day in March of 1901 when the McGuire family arrived at
  their new home south of Isabel, Kansas.
     Father was born August 29, 1852, and Mother (Mary Lucinda Barr) on November 15, 1855.
  They were married October 24, 1875. The family lived near Laredo, Missouri, where Father
  farmed. He did not own land so the family moved frequently.
     Mother wanted a home of her own so much, that in 1900, when we had a good corn crop
  and got a good price, Pa went to Kansas, bought land, and the family moved the following
  spring. All our wordly possessions - furniture, farm machinery, a wagon, the team of
  horses, milk cows, chickens, etc. - were neatly stashed in a box car and shipped to our
  new home. The two older boys rode in the box car with our possessions, and the rest of
  the family came by passenger train. Mother packed us a lunch in an old square egg case,
  which embarrassed some of us greatly.
     There were three sons and four daughters in the McGuire family. All were about
  grown at the time, but were still at home. Everyone moved with the family. The sons
  were James Harley (b. 1878), Alfred Otis (1880), William Arthur (1885); and daughters
  Alverta (1886), (myself) Anna Fidelia, (1889), Ina Mabel (1893), and Mary Lydia, (1897).
     The adjustment to a new country and to our new home was not easy. Many time we were
  homesick for the relatives, old friends,a nd our old home back in Missouri.
     Approximately a year later, Pa sold the farm at a good profit. He told Mother we
  could move back to Missouri if she wished. She considered it - talked it over with the
  other members of the family and all seemed agreeable to moving back until she asked
  Arthur. His answer was "I'll go back with you and help you move, but I won't stay. I
  like it here, and I'm coming back." This decided the issue for the family. Mother
  thought Arthur was too "onery" to leave alone in the new country. She was not about
  to leave anyone behind, so we all stayed. Pa bought land west of Isabel and later built
  a big house on it. The family still owns that farm.
     Harley went back to Missouri, but it wasn't the same as he remembered. He soon
  returned to Kansas. He worked on paving crews in Wichita and Kansas City. In 1913 Harley
  and his two brothers opened a garage in Isabel. He was especially good on steam and
  threshing machine engines. That was his line of work until the combine took over wheat
  harvesting. In the late 1920's he sold his interest in the shop to his two brothers and
  opened a welding shop in Dodge City.
     Otis lived at home and divided his time between work on the farm and the shop. Verta 
  was always needed at home, so her talents were used there. She was an accomplished
  seamstress, and she and Mother loved their flower garden.
     At the time we moved to Kansas there was no school and no town at Isabel, but both
  were soon established. Arthur and all four of us girls attended Isabel Grade School.
     I graduated from eighth grade and went to work at a store in Isabel. I also worked
  at Jetts Store in Pratt for a while, then returned to Bennett's store in Isabel. Mabel
  graduated from grade school in 1909. Since there was not a high school in Isabel, she
  attended Barber County High School in Medicine Lodge. Lydia graduated from grade school
  and that year a high school was started in Isabel, so she was able to stay at home and
  go to high school. She graduated in the first class from I.H.S. (1915). She married
  Fred Bird, also of Isabel, and they made their home in Wichita for over fifty years.
     Mother was a homebody. Her only interests were her family, her home, and her flowers.
  Father took an active part in the community. He served on the school board for many years,
  was Township Trustee, and a community leader in many ways.
     Mother's health failed, so I quit my job to help Verta at home. Our parents celebrated
  their 50th wedding anniversary in 1925. Mother passed away in 1927, and father in 1938.
     Otis, Verta, and I continued to enjoy life on the farm. Verta and I belonged to
  Rebakah Lodge, Church of Christ, and the Isabel Flower Club. I was honored by receiving 
  my 50 year pin from Rebekah's in 1962.
     Verta passed away in 1961, and Otis in 1964. I was left alone on the farm. No one
  thought that I could live alone, but with the help of my family and many kind friends,
  I did live alone for about six years. Then I moved to Medicine Lodge for a few years 
  before moving to Kiowa Manor in 1973.
      Delia expiered 9-79.
      
      This story was told by Delia McGuire and written by her niece, Marjorie McGuire of
      Ulysses, Kansas.
     
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 303