Hugh J. Glenn
Encyclopedia
Hugh James Glenn was a prominent businessman and politician in California
. Glenn was born near Staunton, Virginia
, and grew up in Monroe County, Missouri. He was educated as a physician at McDowell's Medical College in St. Louis, Missouri
. Glenn served with Colonel Alexander William Doniphan
's Missouri Volunteers in the Mexican War
, returning to St. Louis afterwards to marry. In 1850, he joined the California Gold Rush
. He found no gold, but was successful in operating a livery stable at Sacramento, later selling it for a good profit. He returned to California in 1853, bringing his family with him.
Glenn became a cattle rancher, and in 1868 moved to Jacinto, then in Colusa County, California
. He purchased nearly 45,000 acres, cultivating 6,000 of it in grain, earning him the nickname of the Wheat King of California.
Glenn began his public career on the California State Board of Agriculture. In 1879, he ran in the California gubernatorial election as the candidate of both the Democratic
and the New Constitution parties. He lost to Republican
George C. Perkins.
In 1883, Dr. Glenn was murdered on his ranch at Jacinto, California
, by a Huram Miller, who worked for him as a bookkeeper. Miller was an alcoholic and Glenn finally struck him, after being verbally abused by the drunken employee. Miller brooded for several days, then shot Glenn in the head from ambush with a load of buckshot. Glenn was survived by his wife and three children.
In 1891, Glenn County
was created and was named in honor of Hugh James Glenn.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Glenn was born near Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
, and grew up in Monroe County, Missouri. He was educated as a physician at McDowell's Medical College in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Glenn served with Colonel Alexander William Doniphan
Alexander William Doniphan
Alexander William Doniphan was a 19th-century American attorney, soldier and politician from Missouri who is best known today as the man who prevented the summary execution of Mormon founder Joseph Smith, Jr. at the close of the 1838 Mormon War in that state...
's Missouri Volunteers in the Mexican War
Mexican War
Mexican War may refer to:*Mexican War of Independence *Mexican–American War *French intervention in Mexico *Mexican Revolution *Mexican Civil War *Cristero War *Mexican Drug War...
, returning to St. Louis afterwards to marry. In 1850, he joined the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. He found no gold, but was successful in operating a livery stable at Sacramento, later selling it for a good profit. He returned to California in 1853, bringing his family with him.
Glenn became a cattle rancher, and in 1868 moved to Jacinto, then in Colusa County, California
Colusa County, California
Colusa County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, northwest of state capital Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, its population was 21,419. The county seat is Colusa.-History:...
. He purchased nearly 45,000 acres, cultivating 6,000 of it in grain, earning him the nickname of the Wheat King of California.
Glenn began his public career on the California State Board of Agriculture. In 1879, he ran in the California gubernatorial election as the candidate of both the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
and the New Constitution parties. He lost to Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
George C. Perkins.
In 1883, Dr. Glenn was murdered on his ranch at Jacinto, California
Jacinto, California
Jacinto is a small unincorporated community in Glenn County, California. Named for Jacinto Rodriques, who received a Mexican land grant in the area in 1844, it is located on the Sacramento River east-northeast of Willows, at an elevation of 112 feet ....
, by a Huram Miller, who worked for him as a bookkeeper. Miller was an alcoholic and Glenn finally struck him, after being verbally abused by the drunken employee. Miller brooded for several days, then shot Glenn in the head from ambush with a load of buckshot. Glenn was survived by his wife and three children.
In 1891, Glenn County
Glenn County, California
Glenn County is in the California Central Valley. As of 2010, it had a population of 28,122. The county seat is the city of Willows.-History:Glenn County was formed in 1891 from parts of Colusa County. It was named for Dr. Hugh J...
was created and was named in honor of Hugh James Glenn.
External links
- Brief Biography
- Rogers, Justus H., Colusa County : its history traced from a state of nature through the early period of settlement and development to the present day : with a description of its resources, statistical tables, etc., 1891, pp. 387-389.
- Biographies of Hugh James Glenn
- Account of Dr. Glenn's murder