As the West was rapidly settled, barbed wire was in great demand as a way to control cattle and identify private property. To circumvent patent law, many new kinds were invented from 1868 to 1874. Joseph Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois became the recognized winner in this series of improvements with his 1873 and 1874 patents. An unusual old wire type appears in the top wire of the fence, and a juniper tree nearby is nearly covered with climbing bittersweet.