Francis Wayland Glen was born at Minaville, Mongomery Co., N. Y., September 5th, 1836, and on December 8th, 1863, at St. Luke’s Church, Rochester, N. Y., was married to Harriet Frances Hall, daughter of Joseph Hall, founder of that industry in Oshawa which under his name grew to immense proportions. Joseph Hall was the inventor of the Hall Grain Thresher and Cleaner, and of the Hall rotary horse power. In 1862 F. W. Glen came to Oshawa and assumed the management of the Joseph Hall Works, located here, which previously were managed by R. C. Munson. After severing his connection with the Hall Works, Mr. Munson purchased the Canadian patents for the reaper and self rake mower from William N. Whitley, of Springfield, 0., and controlled its manufacture in Canada. W. F. Glen took a great interest in the public affairs of Oshawa ; he purchased the first church bell. As councillor he engaged David Burke to plant 2000 trees upon our streets he proposed and carried a bonus of $5000 for the Ontario Malleable Iron Works, and secured Winterburn and Gardineer of Albany, N. Y., to join Messrs. Jno. and W. F. Cowan in the works mentioned above.
In 1878 he accepted the nomination of the Liberal party for the Dominion House of Commons, and was elected by a majority of 206 over the Hon. T. N. Gibbs. After the collapse of the Joseph Hall Works, F. W. Glen removed to the U. S. and died there about 1910.