Barbed Wire

Joseph Glidden was born January 18, 1813 in Claredon, New York. He moved with his wife and two sons to Illinois. Soon after, his sons and wife died. He then remarried to Lucinda Warre who had farmland. Through his life, Joseph Glidden had many jobs within the government and teaching. In 1873, Joseph Glidden attended the county fair in DeKalb, Illinois. He saw a wooden rail with nails sticking out and decided to use this to start his design of barbed wire. His wife’s garden needed protection and that started his invention process. One year later in 1874, the barbed wire fence was patented. Glidden became a millionaire with assets. His company, with partner Issac Ellwood, The Barb Fence Company made 10,000 pounds of barbed wire the first year and 600,000 pounds by 1875. When Glidden died, he was one of the richest people in America. Although he wasn’t the first person to create the idea, he patented it, made it affordable, and made it a successful business.
Barbed wire was an important invention that bettered the life for farmers during the Industrial Revolution. Barbed wire is a smooth twisted wire with sharp edges or points along the strands. While moving west, materials such as wood and stone become harder to find. Another form of fencing was needed. All wood fences were replaced as the barbed wire evolved and because affordable and effective. Also, wires with barbs are stronger and can stretch without breaking due to temperature. Because this new type of fence made it easier to contain animals in certain areas and fences could be extended west. There are many different forms today, over 300, that have many uses from keeping people in such as in prison or keep people out. As cattle before could have only been in small public areas, cattle were destined to become extinct. Ranchers could now tame a larger portion of land. Today, there are way more types of barbed wire for any purpose. Today there are different metals, thicknesses, and danger levels. Throughout