Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Glidden, Stephen 1820 - 
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Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 6:32 pm

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

STEPHEN GLIDDEN. A history of the men who have had the making of Will County, 
would be incomplete without a sketch of this pioneer, who has been so long and 
so closely connected with its highest material and social interests, and we 
are glad to be able to represent him on the pages of this volume. He stands 
foremost among the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Channahon, is one of 
its most extensive land-owners, having a large and valuable farm in this 
township, and has taken a leading part in making this portion of Illinois one 
of the richest farming regions in this section of the country. Mr. Glidden 
comes of fine old New England stock but is himself a native of the Empire 
State, born in Essex County, September 15, 1820. His parents were Levi and 
Sarah (Glidden) Glidden, who were of very old American families, who came to 
this country many years prior to the Revolution. Mr. Glidden, of barb wire 
fame, is a representative of this family, and second cousin of our subject. 
Our subject was reared in the place of his nativity and followed farming there 
and also the lumber business, getting out timber from the pine woods till he 
was twenty-eight years of age. Then in the flush and vigor of a strong manly 
manhood he came to the Prairie State in 1848, and with the $600 which he had 
accumulated in New York as his capital, he started on a new life here, by 
investing it judiciously in a piece of land lying along the Desplaines River, 
on which was a mill. He operated that for five years very profitably, and then 
the railroad coming through spoiled the business. After that he purchased one 
hundred and eleven acres of land and gave his attention to raising and feeding 
stock and has always been engaged at that. He has added to his farm till it is 
now one of the largest in the county, comprising eight hundred and eighty-five 
acres of as good farming land as lies in the township. In 1849 our subject 
returned to New York for the young lady who had plighted her troth to him, 
Miss Mary L. Barnett, daughter of Asa and Hannah (Lampson) Barnett, of Essex 
County, and their marriage was solemnized July 4, 1849. Accompanied by his 
young bride, who had left fond parents to cast her fortunes in with him whom 
she loved best in all the wide world to assist him in building up of a home, 
our subject returned to Channahon. They established their dwelling on the east 
side of the river, living there until 1878, when he erected his present fine 
residence on an eminence commanding a beautiful view of the valley of the 
Desplaines River and also of the DuPage, about two and one-half miles away, 
and of the village of Channahon on the river. In the management of his 
extensive agricultural affairs Mr. Glidden has shown large enterprise and fine 
business and executive ability, which traits have brought him wealth. He 
generally votes the Republican ticket, but takes no further part in elections 
or politics. September 12, 1887, the shadow of a great grief fell over the 
household of our subject; Death crossed the threshold of his home and removed 
the wife and mother from her loved ones, who hold her dear memory in sacred 
remembrance. She was a woman of a beautiful and noble character, who met the 
grave duties and responsibilities of life with firmness and serene patience, 
and fulfilled them faithfully. She was greatly beloved far beyond the limits 
of her home circle, her constant kindliness of disposition endearing her to 
all who knew her. Blessing she was; God made her so, And deeds of week-day 
holiness fell from her noiseless as the snow. Eleven children were born of the 
marriage of our subject, six of whom grew to maturity, four of whom are still 
living: Pamelia, with her father; Sarah Jane, the wife of Henry Haviland, of 
Channahon, now a resident of Kansas, where he owns a farm; Melissa, with her 
father; Harvy, a young man of twenty-two, who lives with his father, and is 
ably managing the farm. Since the mother departed, the family has been called 
to mourn the death of a loved one, Ella F., who had just blossomed into 
womanhood, died February 24, 1888, at the age of twenty-two years. Adelbert, a 
young man of great promise, in his eighteenth year, was the victim of an 
accident by which he was killed December 2, 1877. While on a duck expedition 
he threw his gun into the boat, and the hammer striking on the seat, was 
discharged, the shot taking effect in his abdomen and he lived but a few 
hours. We reverently believe that the lives thus uncompleted have but entered 
upon broader fields of action and duty, where nobler struggles shall task the 
strength and more precious crowns reward the victor, where the hopes and 
dreams of earth shall be turned to sight and the broken circles of life be 
rounded to the perfect orb.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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