Glidden, Francis Harrington; manufacturer; born, New Castle, Me., May 24, 1832; son of Joseph and Emily Harrington Glidden; educated Lincoln Academy, New Castle, Me.; married, New Castle, Me., Nov. 15, 1854, Winifred Kavanaugh Waters; issue, Francis K., Winifred, Emily, Frederick A., William T., Gertrude, Joseph F., and Mary Beatrice; early life, seaman, later dry-goods merchant; in 1866; entered the varnish business as salesman for William Tilden & Nephena, New York City; remained with them until 1875; came to Cleveland in 1868; in April, 1875, entered the varnish mnfg. business under the firm name of Glidden-Brackett Co.; later changed to Glidden & Joy; in 1890, incorporated under the laws of Ohio, as The Glidden Varnish Co., as it is at present, pres. F. H. Glidden; vice pres. F. A. Glidden; sec’y, F. K. Glidden; treas. Wm. T. Glidden; advance finishing dept., T. F. Glidden; pres. and director The Glidden Varnish Co., and director The Central National Bank; on his first visit to Cleveland, he was greatly impressed with educational advantages and business enterprises the city possessed, and with his children’s welfare in view, determined to move from Miami to Cleveland; he made no mistake and has seen the city grow from a population of 72,000 to over 600,000, with great possibilities for the future; member Clifton Club.
