Robert Wilson Glenn, I

Biography: http://rootcellar.us/glennrw1.htm

He was born in North Carolina, son of Thomas and Ann Speer Glenn. He usually signed his name "R. Wilson Glenn". He left home at an early age and went to Alabama, most likely to attend the male academy at Glennville, "The Athens of the South", which had been [http://www.athens.edu/inauguration/glenn_legacy.php" target="_blank established by some of his Glenn relatives from North Carolina]. Some of the occupations and positions R. Wilson Glenn held, indicate that he had undoubtedly obtained a substantial education somewhere along the line.

R.W. Glenn married in Alabama and had two children, but the marriage ended in divorce. After this he headed west on the Santa Fe Trail, driving a herd of cattle, and soon became a freighter on the Santa Fe trail, traveling back and forth from Santa Fe, New Mexico to Independence Missouri. When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, he was 33 years old. He volunteered, was badly wounded in the conflict, and spent some length of time recuperating in the hospital. He was bankrupted and lost everything he owned, but after being released from the hospital, with the help of a friend who loaned him a team and wagon, he started his own freighting business. Soon he owned several wagons and had many employees.

After branching out and freighting to other areas instead of just the Santa Fe trail, one of his drivers got into a fight and wounded a man during a trip to Salt Lake City. R.W. Glenn therefore went to Salt Lake in 1850 to act as lawyer for his employee. He was camped on the old "Tithing Block" in Salt Lake City, and one morning had just cooked his breakfast and sat down on the tongue of his wagon to eat, when a man approached and struck up a conversation. The man was Parley P. Pratt, and he wanted to talk to R.W. Glenn about religion. They spoke all that day, and R.W. Glenn was converted and was baptized the next day, Nov. 28, 1850. Within a few weeks he was called by Brigham Young to settle in Manti, to replace the ward clerk who had been killed by Indians. After a short time in Manti, he married 17-year-old Sarah Angeline Williams. They had 6 children, all born in Manti. He built and ran the first grist mill there. He also owned the first store in Manti and practiced law.

In 1864 R.W. Glenn was called by Brigham Young to help settle the Sevier Valley. He played a major role in the settlements of both Richfield and Glenwood. He surveyed and laid out the town of Richfield and was county surveyor and candidate for the state legislature. He founded the town of Glenwood, which was named his honor. Unfortunately, when Indian troubles broke out in 1867, all the settlers were forced to leave their homes temporarily. He requested a safer location in the northern part of the state, and was given a position in the Heber Valley, where he ran the first grist mill. After a few years in Heber he moved his family to Wallsburg, but lived there for only a short time before unexpectedly passing away at age 60.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Mar 17 2016, 4:00:53 UTC

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Robert Wilson Glenn was a veteran of the Mexican War and also of the Blackhawk Indian War in Utah. Occupations held during his lifetime included freighter & freight business owner on the Santa Fe Trail, merchant, store owner, carpenter, miller, farmer, clerk, surveyor, lawyer, judge, local government leader, candidate for the state legislature, and founder of the towns of Richfield and Glenwood, Utah.

He was born in North Carolina, son of Thomas and Ann Speer Glenn. He usually signed his name "R. Wilson Glenn." He left home at an early age and went to Alabama, most likely to attend the male academy at Glennville, "The Athens of the South," which had been established by some of his Glenn relatives from North Carolina. Some of the occupations and positions R. Wilson Glenn held indicate that he had undoubtedly obtained a substantial education somewhere along the line.

R.W. Glenn married in Alabama and had two children, but the marriage ended in divorce. After this he headed west on the Santa Fe Trail, driving a herd of cattle, and soon became a freighter on the Santa Fe trail, traveling back and forth from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to Independence, Missouri. When the Mexican War broke out in 1846, he was 33 years old. He volunteered, was badly wounded in the conflict, and spent some length of time recuperating in the hospital. He was bankrupted and lost everything he owned, but after being released from the hospital, with the help of a friend who loaned him a team and wagon, he started his own freighting business. Soon he owned several wagons and had many employees.

After branching out and freighting to other areas instead of just the Santa Fe trail, one of his drivers got into a fight and wounded a man during a trip to Salt Lake City. R.W. Glenn therefore went to Salt Lake in 1850 to act as lawyer for his employee. He was camped on the old "Tithing Block" in Salt Lake City, and one morning had just cooked his breakfast and sat down on the tongue of his wagon to eat, when a man approached and struck up a conversation. The man was Parley P. Pratt, and he wanted to talk to R.W. Glenn about religion. They spoke all that day, and R.W. Glenn was converted and was baptized the next day, November 28, 1850. Within a few weeks he was called by Brigham Young to settle in Manti, to replace the ward clerk who had been killed by Indians. After a short time in Manti, he married 17-year-old Sarah Angeline Williams. They had 6 children, all born in Manti. He built and ran the first grist mill there. He also owned the first store in Manti and practiced law.

In 1864 R.W. Glenn was called by Brigham Young to help settle the Sevier Valley. He played a major role in the settlements of both Richfield and Glenwood. He surveyed and laid out the town of Richfield and was county surveyor and candidate for the state legislature. He founded the town of Glenwood, which was named his honor.

Unfortunately, when Indian troubles broke out in 1867, all the settlers were forced to leave their homes temporarily. He requested a safer location in the northern part of the state, and was given a position in the Heber Valley, where he ran the first grist mill. After a few years in Heber he moved his family to Wallsburg, but lived there for only a short time before unexpectedly passing away at age 60.

SOURCE: Find A Grave.com