Greenville in Floyd County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

John B. Ford

c. 1811-1903

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024

1. John B. Ford Marker, Side One

Inscription. Entrepreneur and philanthropist John B. Ford, whose innovations advanced the U.S. glass industry, began his career in Floyd County. He lived in Greenville where, by 1837, he owned the Station Building property. After moving to New Albany in the 1850s, he built up a fleet of steam ships. During the Civil War, “Captain” Ford profited from government shipping contracts.

In 1867, Ford joined his son Emory in operation of the glassworks company J. B. Ford & Son, which launched the area's glass making industry. In the 1880s and 1890s, Ford established companies near Pittsburgh and Detroit that became glass industry leaders. He stayed connected to Greenville, funding construction of Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church in 1899.

Erected 2019 by Indiana Historical Bureau • Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County • Greenville Historic Preservation Commission • Floyd County Historical Society. (Marker Number 22.2019.1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.

Location. 38° 22.478′ N,

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85° 59.562′ W. Marker is in Greenville, Indiana, in Floyd County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 150 and West 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 150. Marker is in front of First Harrison Bank. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9849 US-150, Greenville IN 47124, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Greenville (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Simpson Memorial Chapel (about 700 feet away); Norman J. Colman (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sherman Minton (approx. 5.7 miles away); Patrick Shields (approx. 5.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 5.7 miles away); George W. Waltz (approx.

John B. Ford Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024

2. John B. Ford Marker, Side Two

5.7 miles away); Georgetown (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Also see . . . John Baptiste Ford. Wikipedia entry on the industrialist whose Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, now known as PPG Industries, became a Fortune 500 company. (Submitted on July 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

John B. Ford Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 16, 2024

3. John B. Ford Marker

John Baptiste Ford (1811-1903) image. Click for full size.

from New Albany-Floyd County Library, Indiana History Room via Wikipedia (Public Domain), circa 1885

4. John Baptiste Ford (1811-1903)

Ford's apprenticeship in a Greenville saddle shop led to his first business venture.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 4. submitted on July 10, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.