Barbed

Joseph Farwell Glidden (1813-1906) started out life in New Hampshire, and became a school teacher. But once married he and his bride eventually found their way out west where Joseph become an Illinois farmer. Wonderful yes?

This was no ordinary Glidden however. Not even the paint Glidden.

Joseph Glidden invented a little thing that let settlers on the vast expanse of the plains fence their livestock in thus preventing the roaming far and wide of said stock.

In 1874 Joseph Glidden patented barbed wire. He would go on to become one of the richest men in the US.

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