Illinois' Sesquicentennial in 1968

From the October 10, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Bacl."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"The DeKalb County Court House in Sycamore has received some outdoor decorations in honor of  the 150th 'birthday' of Illinois.

"The Sesquicentennial salute lists Northern Illinois University, the Farm Bureau, barb wire, and the home of Chief Shabbona as unique facets of DeKalb County's history."

--Cooter

Clinton Rosette Glidden-- Part 2: A Glidden Connection

Ancestry lists him as Clinton Rosette Glidden and that he lived from 1897 to 18 July 1919 and died in France.  In this case, he died a year after he was wounded.  I would think it would have been a 1918 death from the wound.

His parents were Varnum Alexander Glidden and Susie Stewart.

These Gliddens were related to Joseph Farwell Glidden of barbed wire fame..  As a matter of fact, Varnum Alexander Glidden names one of his sons Joseph Farwell Glidden.

--Cooter

Clinton Rosette Glidden-- Part 1: WW I Casualty Named After Clinton Rosette

I clicked on the name of Cunton Rossette Glidden and found out that he had died of wounds.

Further research revealed, as I thought, the man's name was Clinton Rosette Glidden.  He was not the son of Joseph Glidden, however, the inventor of barbed wire.  But related.

He was named after Clinton Rosette, 1850-1909 of DeKalb County, Illinois.  He is considered one of the famous people of DeKalb and was the first editor of the DeKalb Chronicle newspaper (still in business). Clinton Rosette was also instrumental in DeKalb getting what is today known as Northern Illinois University.

In 1968, the DeKalb School District named Clinton Rosette Middle School after him.

--Cooter

Who Was This Cunton Rossette Glidden From DeKalb County?

Yesterday I wrote about four men from DeKalb County going off to World War I.  I decided to look around the web to see if they survived.  Of course, they were going to a training camp in mid August 1918 so it is unlikely they ever even got out of the United States as the war ended three months later.

But, while I was looking at a list of Gold Star families for DeKalb County in World War I and following wars (in which I did not find their names) I did come across a very famous name in DeKalb, the name Glidden.  Joseph Glidden is credited with being one of the inventors of barbed wire and lived in DeKalb, Illinois.

Before I go on any further, I should say that a Gold Star is given to families of those who give their lives in war.

The name I saw was given as Cunton Rossette Glidden.  I knew there was a Clinton Rosette Middle School in DeKalb (where I  did observation and some teaching while at NIU).

Well, perhaps the Cunton was a misspelling of Clinton and Rossette was actually Rosette.

Got me To Wondering.  --Cooter

Phineas Vaughan-- Part 1: Helped Invent Barbed Wire

From the Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and History Center.

PHINEAS VAUGHAN  1827-1897

Played a pivotal role in helping his friend, Joseph F. Glidden, invent "The Winner,"  one of the most widely used types of barbed wire.  Ultimately, he and Glidden would patent a hand-operated machine for making barbed wire.

The site of his original blacksmith shop is on the north side of Lincoln Highway between 3rd and 4th streets in downtown DeKalb.  It is marked by a horseshoe embedded in the concrete sidewalk, believed to be one from Vaughan's shop.

--Cooter

The Local Blacksmith Gets Anvil for Headstone

From the Feb. 1, 2017, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1942, 75 Years Ago.

"Bygone sites in DeKalb include the blacksmith shop on the 300 block where P.W. Vaughan pounded out many of the devices that improved Uncle Joe's barbed wire machine.

"The anvil on which he worked was first to come into this territory and it now serves as a headstone on his grave in Evergreen Cemetery."

Uncle Joe would be Joseph Glidden, barbed wire's inventor.

Not Your Usual Headstone.  --Cooter

Elva Women Doing Their Part in World War I Effort in 1917

From the July 5, 2017, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917, 100 Years Ago

"The larger clubs of Elva, that is, the Homemakers, the Woman's Club and Woman's Christian Temperance Union, have discontinued their meets for an indefinite period, turning their interest toward Red Cross work."

The war is on.

Elva is located five miles south and southwest of DeKalb, Illinois, and was developed by Joseph Glidden, the inventor of barbed wire, and named for his daughter.

--Cooter

Looking Back to 1941: A New Barbed Wire in DeKalb

From the September 28, 2016, MidWeek "Looking Back."

1941, 75 Years Ago.

"Henry A. Nelson, president of Central States Industrial Engineering of DeKalb, has been granted a patent on an improved type of barbed wire.

"The barbed wire which Mr. Nelson has perfected has what is described as a reverse twist of the two strands of wire being the center, between two barbs."

They don't call DeKalb the Barbed City for nothing.

It's a Sticking Situation.  --Cooter

Isaac L. Ellwood, Barbed Wire King from DeKalb, Illinois

In yesterday's blog, I mentioned this man going to Washington, D.C. and meeting with President Harding at the White House in 1890.  Must be an important man.

He was.

From Wikipedia.

Born 1833, died 1910.  American rancher, businessman and barbed wire entrepreneur.

Born in New York and went out West during the California Gold Rush.  In 1855 moved to DeKalb, Illinois and opened a hardware and implements store.

In 1872, a farmer from nearby Waterman patented a form of barbed wire.  Ellwood, Jacob haish and Joseph Glidden improved it and patented a new type of barb wire in 1974.  With Glidden, he formed the I.L. Ellwood Manufacturing Company to make it and they became extremely wealthy men.

Ellwood also played a big part in getting the state to open a normal school to train teachers in DeKalb.  Today, this place is called Northern Illinois University, Liz and my alma mater.

I.L. Ellwood's house in DeKalb is now a museum.  The DeKalb High School team is called the Barbs.

Hung Up On the barbed Wire Again.  --DaCoot