Hugh J. Glenn

Hugh James Glenn (September 18, 1824 – February 17, 1883) was a prominent 19th-century physician, stockman, wheat farmer and politician in California. In 1879, he ran in the California gubernatorial election as the candidate of both the Democratic and the New Constitution parties but lost to Republican George C. Perkins. At the time of his death he was considered the largest wheat-grower in California.

Ranching and political career

Map showing subdivisions of the Glenn Ranch, Glenn County, California.

Glenn became a cattle rancher, and in 1868 moved to Jacinto, California, then in Colusa County. He bought on the north end of Rancho Jacinto. He continued to add to his holdings, until he had purchased the entire Rancho and also of Rancho Larkin’s Children. In all, he had , cultivating of them in grain, earning him the nickname of the "Wheat King" of California. He had his own machines and blacksmith shops, boring, turning and planing machines. He employed 50 men in seeding and 150 men in harvest. On August 8, 1879, he brought in 5,779 bushels of wheat in one day.

Peter French moved to Jacinto where he met and accepted employment as a horse breaker with Glenn. French was promoted to foreman. In 1872, Glenn sent French to Oregon with 1,200 head of Shorthorn cattle, where he bought land. In 1883, French married Glenn’s daughter, Ella Abernathy Glenn.

Death

On February 17, 1883, Dr. Glenn was murdered on his ranch at Jacinto by 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 sons and one daughter. His remains were taken to Oakland for interment.

Peter French continued to manage the Oregon operation for the Glenn family, selling more cattle to help pay the family’s debts. In 1894, Glenn’s heirs decided to incorporate the French-Glenn partnership into the French-Glenn Livestock Company, making French the company president. The land was later sold in small parcels, a great part purchased by the Sacramento Valley Irrigation Company and subdivided in later years.

Legacy

In 1891, Glenn County was created and named in honor of Dr. Glenn, who purchased on the north end of Rancho Jacinto in 1867.