Barbed wire ("bob wahr") still fences in acres and acres of land throughout Texas. You probably know that the purpose of those nasty little barbs is to keep varmints away from the crops or the cattle or whatever else the fence surrounds. But that's just the tip of the barb...
The first line of de"fence"
Throughout the ages barricades were typically constructed of whatever materials were readily available in the area. This usually meant wood, stone, earth, or living fences of densely grown shrubs or trees. Whether used as a means to keep unwanted visitors out, to delineate property lines, or to corral domesticated pets or livestock, fences were an essential element of American life.
However, by the time settlers, mostly farmers pushed into Texas and the Plains territories a problem with traditional fencing methods became apparent. Wood was scarce on the prairie and expensive to bring in. Fences of stone, when stone was available, were labor intensive and not practical for most settlers. Other means of fencing posed problems as well. Smooth wire was sometimes used but it failed to adequately hold back livestock.
Armored fence
Several stories surround the "legend" of barbed wire but all have certain truths in common. Someone realized a need for a cheaper, low-maintenance fence that would deter whatever threatened from the outside (most commonly animals of one sort or another). Adding spikes, barbs, or other projections to various fencing materials was the start of the "armored fence" experiments that evenutally lead to the addition of barbs to smooth wire, thus the birth of the barbed wire fence.
Although ideas for "armored fence" may have sprang up in many locations, for all practical purposes the birthplace of barbed wire is DeKalb, Illinois. It was there, around 1874, that the most commonly used types of barbed wire fencing were developed and the production of barbed wire began in earnest. And one of the prime markets for this new fence - Texas and the expanding territories of the mid-west.
Don't fence me in | The first barbs | Barbed wire patents | Pitchin' fences | XIT Ranch | The fence-cutters' war | The big die-up | Barbed wire then and now
