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John Borden’s Transformation of Mississippi’s Glenwild Plantation

Lieutenant Commander John Borden went from hunting U-boats to growing crops.

In 1917, he sailed his own yacht-turned-warship to France, where he tracked German submarines and won the Navy Cross.

After the war, Borden bought Glenwild Plantation in Mississippi, built in 1839.

He then turned the old farm into a marvel with electric power, water systems, and even a private train stop. The Panama Limited made special stops there, bringing rich guests right to his door.

Today, Glenwild stands as a rare place where military skill met farming genius, with its original buildings still showing how a war hero changed American agriculture.

From Luxury Yacht Owner to War Hero

John Borden lived a rich, fancy life before World War I. He bought the fancy yacht Kanawha in 1915 to add to his stuff.

The boat looked great with its smooth shape and fancy rooms, perfect for fun trips along the coast. Borden loved boats but wasn’t in the military.

His Kanawha purchase showed his love for sailing, which soon changed as war came closer.

His Pleasure Boat Transformed for Battle

The U.S. Navy came to Borden in April 1917, right after America joined World War I. They needed boats for the war, and Kanawha was perfect.

The Navy took Borden’s yacht and turned it into a sub patrol boat, removing the fancy stuff and adding weapons.

They even made Borden the captain of his old yacht, now called USS Kanawha II. The boat changed from party vessel to war machine, just like Borden changed from rich guy to military leader.

July 4th Arrival Made History in France

Borden and USS Kanawha II left America on June 9, 1917, heading for risky European waters. The boat reached Brest, France on July 4, 1917, a meaningful date for both French and American troops.

Kanawha II joined the first group of American ships sent to France, showing America’s real entry into the war. The French threw a party for these early American boats, even with German U-boats hiding nearby.

Hunting German U-Boats in Dangerous Waters

Borden and his crew started sub patrols just two weeks after reaching France. They watched the waters off Brest all the time, looking for signs of German submarines.

On September 3, 1917, the crew spotted an enemy periscope cutting through the waves.

They saw another on November 28, when Kanawha II sent out warnings that helped track a German U-boat through their area. These run-ins put Borden and his men in constant danger, as U-boats often attacked patrol boats.

Navy Cross Rewarded His Wartime Courage

Borden got the Navy Cross, one of the top honors for naval staff, for leading these risky sub patrols.

The award praised how well he handled dangerous waters and kept Allied ships safe. USS Kanawha II helped a lot with fighting subs, keeping supply lines across the Atlantic open.

After the war, Borden went back to normal life with military honors and leadership skills that would help his next project.

The Naval Commander Buys a Piece of History

Borden bought the old Glenwild Plantation in Mississippi in 1921, looking for something new after the war.

The property went back to 1839, when Colonel A. M. Payne built the main house and started the working farm. When Borden took over, Glenwild still had its old-time look but needed modern updates.

The buildings and fields needed work after years of old farming methods, giving Borden room to try new ideas.

Naval Efficiency Meets Farm Management

The former Navy commander saw Glenwild as more than just an old property. He wanted to turn it into a super-efficient farm using what he learned in the Navy.

Borden used military-style planning on the farm to get the most crops possible. He hired farming experts and bought new equipment.

His approach mixed respect for the farm’s history with new farming methods rarely seen in 1920s Mississippi.

Lights Come On at the Old Plantation

Borden put in his own electric power plant at Glenwild, bringing power to a rural area where electricity was still rare.

The system lit up the main house, worker homes, and farm buildings, letting people work longer and use electric farm tools. This power plant was cutting-edge tech for a rural Mississippi farm in the 1920s.

People could see Glenwild’s electric lights glowing at night from miles away across the dark countryside.

Modern Plumbing Changes Rural Farm Life

Borden completely changed the water system. He built a new water tower and pumps that brought running water throughout the property.

New watering systems helped crops grow even during dry times, making the farm produce more. Indoor toilets and modern bathrooms replaced outhouses and hand pumps, making things cleaner and more comfortable.

The water system showed Borden’s engineering mind, probably from his time managing systems on Navy ships.

The Panama Limited Makes Special Stops

Few regular people could get a major railroad to add a stop just for them, but Borden did it.

He built a private train station at Glenwild and got the fancy Illinois Central Railroad’s Panama Limited to stop there regularly.

This luxury train normally only stopped in big cities, making the Glenwild arrangement very special.

The station let Borden ship farm products easily and bring supplies right to the plantation, giving him a big business advantage.

Wealthy Guests Arrive in Pullman Luxury

Pullman cars filled with wealthy guests regularly pulled into Glenwild’s private depot.

Business magnates, politicians, and socialites traveled in style to experience Borden’s unique blend of southern hospitality and modern convenience.

Visitors enjoyed hunting, fishing, and observing the showcase farm operations during their stays. The guest list included some of America’s most prominent families during the 1920s.

Visiting Glenwild Plantation, Grenada

You can visit Glenwild Plantation about 5 miles south of Grenada, Mississippi near U.S. Route 51.

This 1839 plantation was bought by Navy Cross recipient Lt. Commander John Borden in 1921, who turned it into a modern farm with electric power and its own railroad depot where the Panama Limited stopped.

Call the Grenada County Historical Society at 662-307-2693 for tours, or check Mississippi State University Libraries Archives for historical records and photos.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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