Ellwood family papers, 1863-1931

Isaac L. Ellwood (1833-1910) was a co-inventor of barbed wire, industrialist, and rancher during the second half of the nineteenth century. Ellwood was born in Salt Springville, New York and settled in DeKalb, Illinois during the 1850s. He first observed Henry Rose's invention of barbed wire in 1873, then patented his own version of the concept in 1874. Ellwood purchased a half interest in Joseph Glidden's barbed wire patent, and the two men formed the Barbed Fence Company in DeKalb, Illinois in 1875. When Glidden sold his half interest to Washburn-Moen Manufacturing Company in 1876, Ellwood renamed his business I.L. Ellwood and Company and retained control of barbed wire production and distribution in the West. Elwood later formed Ellwood Wire and Nail Company, then reorganized his businesses as I.L. Ellwood Manufacturing Company in 1889. In 1898, he sold his barbed wire interests to John W. Gates, who created American Steel and Wire Company. In addition to his barbed wire business, Ellwood also imported and bred Percheron horses, owned ranches in Texas (including the famed Renderbrook and Spade Ranches), and invested in farm mortgages and mining.

William L. Ellwood (1859-1933), the son of of Isaac L. Ellwood, was a prominent horse breeder and rancher during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Born in DeKalb, Illinois, the younger Ellwood started his business career managing his father's Percheron horse interests, then found and operated his own successful Percheron breeding business, Will Ellwood Company, in DeKalb. In addition to his horse business, he was a co-manager of the Ellwoods' ranches (including the Renderbrook and Spade Ranches) in Texas.