January 18, 1813
Joseph F. Glidden was born in Charleston, Sullivan County, New Hampshire.
1835 - 1838
Glidden teaches school.
1837
Glidden marries Clarissa Foster. He is 24 years old.
1838 - 1841
Glidden owns a small farm.
1842
Joseph Glidden leaves New York with his brother, Josiah Willard, and moves to Mt. Morris, Illinois.
1842 - 1843
Glidden buys a 600 acre farm in DeKalb, Illinois. He is now 30 years old.
1843
Joseph Glidden's young sons, Homer and Virgil, die in an epidemic.
Clarissa comes to De Kalb.
1844
Clarissa Glidden dies in childbirth. The baby dies a few months later.
1844 - 1851
Very little is known about Glidden during this time period.
1851
Glidden marries Lucinda Warne. He is 38 years old.
1852
Glidden is elected county sheriff. A daughter, Elva Frances Glidden is born.
1853
The railroad acquires right of way access across the Glidden farm.
1861
Glidden hires Jacob Haish to build a house and barn.
1863
Glidden is elected to the County Board of Supervisors, at the age of 50. He remains on in office until 1873.
1874
In July, Glidden sells Isaac Ellwood half interest in his barbed wire patent for $265.00. On November 24th he is granted a patent by the U.S. Patent Office.
1875
Glidden and Ellwood build a barbed wire factory in DeKalb.
1876
Glidden sells the other half interest in his patent to Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Company of Worcester, Massachusetts. He receives $60,000.00 plus royalties.
Glidden Builds the Glidden House hotel.
1879
Glidden buys the DeKalb Chronical and publishes it until death.
1881
Glidden is elected mayor of DeKalb. He becomes a partner with Henry Sanborn in a 250,000 acre ranch in Texas.
1887
Elva Frances Glidden marries William H. Bush of Chicago. At 74 years of age, Glidden moves into the Glidden House Hotel.
1895
Glidden donates 63 acres of land for the site of Northern Illinois State Normal School.
Lucinda Glidden dies at the age of 69.
1903
Joseph F. Glidden is honored by the leaders of DeKalb and his long time friends on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
October 9, 1906
Joseph F. Glidden dies at the age of 93.