Joseph Glidden

Joseph Farwell Glidden (January 18, 1813 – October 9, 1906) was an American farmer who patented barbed wire, a product that forever altered the development of the American West. Image File history File links JosephGlidden. ... Image File history File links JosephGlidden. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1813 (MDCCCXIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Farmer (disambiguation). ... Typical modern agricultural barbed wire. ... The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditionally refers to the region constituting the westernmost states of the United States (see geographical terminology section for further discussion of these terms). ...

Glidden was born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, his family later moving to Clarendon, New York. In 1843, he moved to Illinois with his wife Clarissa Foster. She and her two sons died after the move, and Glidden married Lucinda Warne in 1851. Location in Sullivan County, New Hampshire Coordinates: Country United States State New Hampshire County Sullivan County Incorporated 1783 Board of Selectmen Brenda Ferland, Chair Jon B LeClair Steven A Neill Area    - City 98. ... For other uses, see New Hampshire (disambiguation). ... Clarendon is a town located in Orleans County, New York. ... This article is about the state. ... Year 1843 (MDCCCXLIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

He created barbed wire by using a coffee mill to create the barbs. Glidden placed the barbs along a wire and then twisted another wire around it to keep the barbs in place. He received the patent for barbed wire in 1874 and was quickly embroiled in a legal battle over whether he actually invented it. He eventually won and created the Barb Fence Company in DeKalb, Illinois. His invention made him extremely rich. By the time of his death in 1906, he was one of the richest men in America. The Dun & Bradstreet Collection, 1840-1895, MSS 791, LXIII, 130, Baker Library, Harvard, recorded his assets at one million dollars. This included the Glidden House Hotel, the DeKalb Chronicle, 3,000 acres (12 km²) of farm land in Illinois, 335,000 acres (1,360 km²) in Texas, and the Glidden Felt Pad Industry. Year 1874 (MDCCCLXXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. ... D&B redirects here. ... Harvard University is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and a member of the Ivy League. ...

An early handmade specimen of Glidden's "The Winner" on display at the Barbed Wire History Museum in DeKalb, Illinois.

From 1852 to 1854 he served as Sheriff of DeKalb County. In 1851, 1861, 1862, 1869, 1870, 1871, 1872, and 1876 he served on the Board of Supervisors of the County. In 1867, he served on the Executive Committee of DeKalb County Agriculture and Mechanical Society's Seventh Annual Fall Fair, held September 25-28. In 1876, he was the Democratic nominee for State Senator. From 1861 to 1874, he served as a member of the Board of School Directors, and for twenty years paid the largest school tax of any citizen of the county. He was also one of the largest contributors to the erection of one of the churches. He was also Vice-President of the DeKalb National Bank, Director of the North Western Railroad, and owner of the DeKalb Rolling Mill. He also owned the Glidden House Hotel, the DeKalb Chronicle, and the Glidden Felt Pad Industry. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 332 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 332 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. ...

In 1881 to demonstrate the effectiveness of the wire, Glidden, and his sales agent for the State of Texas, Henry B. Sanborn, developed the "Frying Pan Ranch" in Bushland, Potter County, Texas. The wire was brought in by wagon from the railhead at Dodge City, Kansas, the timbers were cut from Palo Duro Canyon and along the Canadian River Valley. A herd of 12,000 head of cattle was branded with the "Panhandle Brand", which the cowboys called "frying pan". The ranch proved the success of the wire, and changed ranching. The ranch's headquarters were located at Tecovas Springs, six-miles northwest of Amarillo, the ranch's eastern border became Amarillo's Western Street. Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Bushland is an unincorporated community in southwestern Potter County, Texas (USA). ... Potter County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... For Michael Curtizs 1939 western movie, see Dodge City (1939 movie). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Lighthouse hoodoo in Palo Duro canyon Palo Duro Canyon is a canyon system of the Caprock Escarpment in the Panhandle of Texas (USA). ... The Canadian River is the largest tributary of the Arkansas River. ... Amarillo redirects here. ...

Glidden, a former teacher, gave 63 acres (255,000 m²) of his homestead as a site for the Northern Illinois Normal School. The school opened on September 12, 1898, with 139 students and 16 members of the faculty. The school's name was changed to Northern Illinois University in 1957. Northern Illinois University is a public university located in DeKalb, Illinois. ...

The town of Glidden, Iowa is named in his honor. Glidden is a city located in Carroll County, Iowa. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

See also

• Joseph F. Glidden House

Joseph F. Glidden House is located in the DeKalb County, Illinois city of DeKalb. ...

Patents

• U.S. Patent 157,124  -- Wire fences

References

• Unattributed, The Barbed-Wire Business in Prairie Farmer, Vol. 56: No. 1, January 5, 1884.[1]
• McCallum, Henry D., and Frances T., The Wire That Fenced the West. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1965.
• Clifton, Robert T., Barbs, Prongs, Points, Prickers, and Stickers. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1970