John Glover

John Glover was a shipbuilder based in Port Rowan, Ontario, during the late 19th century. In 1873, he constructed the scow-schooner Bay Trader, a two-masted wooden vessel measuring 113 feet in length, 22 feet in beam, and 7 feet in depth, with a gross tonnage of 172. The Bay Trader was primarily used for transporting wood across Lake Erie. On July 11, 1888, while en route from Port Rowan to Buffalo, the vessel encountered a severe storm and ran aground at Clear Creek on the Canadian side of Lake Erie. The crew was rescued by Canadian lifesavers, and there were no fatalities. Subsequent records from 1890 suggest that the Bay Trader may have been salvaged and repurposed as a “wrecking lighter” in need of repairs.

John Glover’s contributions to shipbuilding in Port Rowan are further evidenced by his family connections. His son, Charles Glover, was noted to have visited Port Rowan in December 1918, visiting his sister, Mrs. W. P. Ferris. Charles was described as a native of Port Rowan and a son of the late John Glover. 

Additionally, records indicate that John Glover had other children, including Artensy Ruth Glover, born around 1859 in Port Rowan, and Albert Glover, born on October 29, 1866, in Ontario. 

These familial connections, along with his shipbuilding endeavors, highlight John Glover’s integral role in the maritime history of Port Rowan, Ontario.