Haish barbed wire canes

Jacob Haish manufactured barbed wire canes as a promotional item. The canes and their toppers vary in shape and size. It is unknown just how many were made, and how many are still in existence.

These are photos of two canes that belong to Kevin Haish. Photos by Jessi LaRue.

You can learn more about Haish canes by clicking over to my previous post here.

"More & More Barbed Wire" song

This song, written by Art. Edwards, is featured on the first pages of his barbed wire book "Unusual Fence Wires," published in 1979. Fans of the Glidden story, as well as barbed wire collectors, will enjoy this charming song.

"A brief history of barbed wire in song with a little humor added"
By Art. Edwards

"More & More Barbed Wire"
Use tune of Casey Jones

"There was a Mister Rose from up in Illinois

He had had a dream ever since he was a boy

He said to his wife we'll go to the fair

We'll take the buggy and the old grey mare

So he took a stick and he drove it full of nails

He sharpened the points and hung it on a rail

He said now boys step up and take a look

This will be something that will go into the book

Then up stepped Mr. Glidden and some more of the boys

They looked the thing over until their eyes were sore

They each had a plan to beat the other man

They would put on some barbs and fence in the land

So after a short stay they went their own way

They each got busy the very next day

Now Mr. Glidden said to his hired hand

Just slip on the barbs with either hand

CHORUS:

Well more and more wire more and more barbed wire

We'll keep on collecting' til our boards are full

Then Joseph said honey we'll make ourselves some money

If you're not going to grind we'll twist several kinds

We'll fence in the yard and we'll fence in the barn

I don't think those barbs will do much harm

Then people came out to see this fence

Mostly on Sunday and other days since

It began to catch on and the first thing they knew

This barbed wire wasn't anything new

Then Bet a Million Gates went to San Antonio

He had no partner he just went alone

He built this pen and they put the cattle in

He bet a lot of money and he took them all in

They found a piece of wire in the Trinity River Bank

They took it to the station and they all begin to think

We need to get together and organize a club

So they called the darned thing a barbed wire club

CHORUS:

Well more and more wire more and more barbed wire

We'll keep on collecting' til our boards are full

So they met at Fort Worth each and every month 

They didn't drink much just a little punch

They traded old wire and told tall tales

There weren't any ladies just a bunch of old males

Then others heard about it and begin to do the same

They gave the darned thing the same old name

They have so many shows we can't see them all

Just one in the Spring and one in the Fall

Now Mr. Jack Glover he made himself a book

And on the front cover you ought to take a look

It's really not a bible it's just another book

Several preachers bought it and simply got took

Then Mr. Allison thought he would try it

But his wife Jimmie says do you think they'll buy it

Yes with all these traders I think they'll try it

They'll look the thing over and then they'll buy it

CHORUS:

Well more and more wire more and more barbed wire

We'll keep on collecting' til our boards are full

They went down the road to look for old wire

And about that time they had a flat tire

They walked around behind and what you think they saw

Twas an old piece of wire wrapped all around the tire

They got out the jack and raised up the wheel

That's when Payne said Bill I'll make you a deal

Now Bill was pretty slow but finally said no

We'll take the wire and pay for that tire

We do mostly tradin' but also some sellin'

That's why we need the trends to know what to tell 'em

If we couldn't trade 'em we'd just have to sell 'em

Now if you trade by mail you'd better know your man 

They'll tell you anything just to get some more strands

They'll find some old wire and give it a fancy name

And when it comes in you'll have a lot of the same

Then I got myself some marbles and put them in a sack

Then locked up the doors of my old shack

I found some Crandalls it was in short lengths

So I left some marbles for two of those links

Them came to the creek and stopped at the bank

And that's when I really began to think

I hadn't found much just mostly old Decker

I had lost all my marbles and become a wire collector

CHORUS:

Well more and more wire more and more barbed wire

We'll keep on collecting' til our boards are full

Advertisement: Haish Engines

Advertisement provided by Kevin Haish

This advertisement for Carlson & Anderson, of DeKalb, Illinois, lays out their extensive list of tractors, implements, and other machines they have available.  Most notably, they list Haish Engines in the column to the left. Advertisement from eBay.

Book recalls Haish's wire story

I've been reading the book "Early United States Barbed Wire Patents" by Jesse S. James, and I must say, it has become one of my favorite books on the topic. From the clever index that features drawings of every included patent, to the interesting stories throughout the book, it's a good reference! I thoroughly enjoyed, and laughed out loud, to this story that begins by referencing Henry Rose's creation, which inspired Haish, Glidden and Ellwood to create barbed wire, once they saw the display at the county fair. 

Hope you enjoy this story about Haish, even if the author may have taken some creative liberty with the dialogue!

"...Jacob Haish also developed and patented a two-strand barbed wire similar to Glidden's. This was the famous 'S' barb. (Patent No. 167,240.) He had previously patented other wires and he believed Glidden's patent infringed on his patent. 

He said, 'It seems to me that old Joe Glidden is trying to steal my idea! Well, I just won't let him do it! I'm gonna see him in court about this!' 

This started the legal battle over barbed wire that lasted many years.

In the meantime both of these guys had their small factories going like mad, and working overtime! They would buy plain smooth wire from back east, fasten their patented stickers upon it and the stuff would sell like hotcakes!

In fact they bought so much of this wire from one large company, that the sales aroused the curiosity of the company's management, and they said, 'Just what the heck's going on out there at DeKalb anyhow?' and, 'What does this Glidden feller and this upstart of a Haish think they're up to?' 

They could easily see that this barbed wire business was going to be a big thing! 

And so at a special meeting of the executives of the Washburn and Moen Manufacturing Co., it was agreed by all that Charles Washburn, who was Vice President of the company, should go to DeKalb and attempt to buy the patent rights and factories of Haish and Glidden.

When Washburn arrived in the busy little town of DeKalb on that day in February 1876, he went first to Jacob Haish and ask him if he would sell. Haish answered, 'Of course, Mr. Washburn, I would sell my patent rights and factory but I would have to have $200,000.' 

'I'm sorry,' Mr. Washburn said, 'But that's quite a bit more than I could pay.'

Haish later told his friends, 'Had Washburn been a typical Yankee and offered me $25,000, I believe I would have accepted it.' Then he added, 'I believe Washburn would have been ahead if he had paid me the $200,000, I asked for, as I've been told that the lawsuits alone have cost his company $1,325,000!'"

Below are images from the book:

Jacob Haish Co. postcards

These two postcards advertise products from Jacob Haish Company: the poultry fence and the twin tie woven wire. "Jacob Haish Co." and "DeKalb, Ill." are printed on the image side of both postcards.

Front side of Twin Tie Woven Wire postcard. | Image provided by Jessi LaRue

Back side of Twin Tie Woven Wire postcard. | Image provided by Jessi LaRue

Twin Tie Woven Wire postcard:

This postcard, above, shows the twin tie woven wire fence, and a cowboy who has been thrown from his horse and right over the fence. In the background you can see a woman running over to help.

The backside of the postcard reads: 

"C. Fischer & Son, Lancaster, Wis. 
Haish Wire Fence, Haish Barbed Wire, Nails, etc."

Front side of Poultry Fence postcard. | Image provided by Jessi LaRue

Back side of Poultry Fence postcard. | Image provided by Jessi LaRue

Poultry Fence postcard:

This postcard, above, shows a well-dressed young boy and his dog. The boy appears to be saying "cock-a-doodle!" with the rooster, who is on the other side of the fence.

The backside of the postcard reads:

"COCK-A-DOODLE

Adjustable square mesh chicken fence does not bag, buckle or sag. No top or bottom rails or line posts needed. Only corner posts necessary. Costs no more than old style netting and makes a heavier, more durable fence. Sold by A. Driesens & Son, 338 W. Leonard St., Grand Rapids, Michigan."