1873: Farmer from Illinois invents barbed wire There is an old adage that says, “Change begins at the ballot box,” which could not be further from the truth. Change begins with human ingenuity, which affects how we live our lives, which — at some future point — affects how we vote. A perfect example is the invention that Joseph Glidden, an Illinois farmer, patented this week (Oct. 27) in 1873. He called it barbed wire because, unlike the single-strand fencing wire then in existence, Glidden used two strands of wire twisted together, which resulted in what Glidden called “barbed” wire spurs. Not only was barbed wire stronger, but also Glidden’s design proved to be conducive to mass production, meaning barbed wire became plentiful and inexpensive. Which changed the American landscape forever. Suddenly farmers and ranchers had an affordable way to fence their property, and by 1880 Glidden’s Barb Fence Co. — which he had formed in 1875 — had sold more than 80 million pounds of barbed wire. As one rancher wrote of Glidden’s invention, “It takes no room, exhausts no soil, shades no vegetation, is proof against high winds, makes no snowdrifts and is both durable and cheap.”....
Remembering the cowboys There’s no doubt that Anita Witt, 68, has an affinity for the cowboy culture. In her youth, Witt trained horses and performed as a trick rider on the rodeo circuit. Although she’s no longer a trick rider, she has taught her horses, Whiskey and Jose Cuervo; and her cow-dog, Spanky, to do some entertaining tricks. They go on the road for special shows at children’s hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and private parties. Raised on the music of Hank Williams and Ernest Tubbs, she also sings old-time western songs, including some cowboy yodeling. Witt also a historian, with a fascination for this country’s cowboy past. A part-time resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, Witt recognized a need to document the history of the local ranching community. She spent six years interviewing real-life cowboys from the Roaring Fork Valley and northern Eagle County, including the late Burns ranchers Orris and Joe Albertson. In 2002, she authored the book “I Remember One Horse ... Last of the Cowboys in the Roaring Fork Valley and Beyond.” Local ranchers were generous in sharing their history; and often those stories focused on a favorite horse or dog....