Barbed Wire

Joseph Glidden, USA, patent 157,124 of 1874. Cheap fencing that settled the American plains.

Overview

Glidden, a farmer, twisted two wires holding barbs and patented the design that beat dozens of rivals. Sales exploded as the treeless plains, lacking fence wood, could finally be enclosed. Cattle drives and open range wars ended within decades. Competing patents fed the Kirby-era fence wars and giant licensing trusts. Devil's rope also bloodied World War I battlefields. The Glidden patent made DeKalb, Illinois rich and the map of the West rectangular.