baum was born in a small town in chittenango, new york. he was a member of a large family. he started writing as a child. when his father bought his children a simple printing press, baum and a younger brother wrote and printed a small local newspaper. as a young man, baum wrote and staged plays. sometimes he wrote songs for his plays and starred in them himself. he also tried many other careers. he was a travelling salesman and a storekeeper for a time. he started a newspaper while he lived in a town in south dakota. he married in 1882. he and his wife, maud gage baum, raised four sons. baum had a very good imagination. he liked creating stories for his young sons and their friends.