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Clement Studebaker

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Clement Studebaker
Studebaker in a 1918 publication
Born(1831-03-12)March 12, 1831
East Berlin, Pennsylvania,U.S.
DiedNovember 27, 1901(1901-11-27)(aged 70)
South Bend, Indiana,U.S.
Resting placeRiverview Cemetery
South Bend, Indiana, U.S.
Other namesClem Studebaker
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Charity Bratt
​
(m.1852⁠–⁠1863)​
Anna Harper Milburn
​
(m.1864)​
Children5, includingClement Jr.
RelativesJohn Studebaker(brother)
Peter Studebaker(brother)
Signature

Clement Studebaker(March 12, 1831 – November 27, 1901) was an American wagon and carriage manufacturer. With his brother Henry, he co-founded the H & C Studebaker Company, precursor of theStudebaker Corporation,which built Pennsylvania-GermanConestoga wagons[1]and carriages during his lifetime, and automobiles after his death, inSouth Bend, Indiana.

Early life

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Clement Studebaker was born on March 12, 1831, inEast Berlin,Adams County, Pennsylvania,to Rebecca (née Mohler) and John Studebaker. He was of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage.[2][3]At a young age, he had learned to work as a blacksmith in his father's shop inAshland, Ohio.At the age of twenty, Studebaker moved to Indiana and taught school inSt. Joseph County, Indiana.[4][5]

Career

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In 1851, Studebaker worked at a threshing machine factory.[3][5]In February 1852, Studebaker and his elder brotherHenry Studebakeropened the H. & C. Studebaker blacksmith shop at the corner of Michigan and Jefferson Streets in what is now the heart of downtownSouth Bend, Indiana.[3][4]

In 1858, Henry's interest in the business was bought out by a younger brotherJohn Mohler Studebaker.[3][6]: p.26 At that time, the brothers were filling wagon orders for theUnited States Army,which they continued throughout the Civil War.[4]As aDunkard,Henry was a committed pacifist and may have objected to having a part in making war materials. An official Studebaker company history simply says "Henry was tired of the business. He wanted to farm. The risks of expanding were not for him".[6]: p.26 Studebaker and three other brothers formedStudebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company.The company was incorporated in 1868 and Studebaker served as president.[5]It would become the largest wagon manufacturer in the world and the only manufacturer ofhorse-drawn vehiclesto successfully switch to automobiles.[citation needed]

Studebaker was a commissioner from Indiana to theParis Expositionin 1878 and theWorld Cotton Centennialin New Orleans. He served as president of the board of world fair's managers at Chicago in 1893.[5]Studebaker was aRepublican.He was a delegate from the South Bend district to the1880 Republican National Conventionand an at-large state delegate to the1888 Republican National Convention.[5]PresidentBenjamin Harrisonappointed Studebaker to thePan-American Conferencein 1889–1890.[3][5]He served as a member of the South Bend City Council from 1870 to 1872.[3]

Studebaker was a member and served as president of the Carriage Builders' National Association.[5]He was a member of the board of trustees ofDePauw University.[5]He served as a member and president of the Chautauqua Assembly.[3]

Personal life

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Grave of Studebaker at Riverview Cemetery

Studebaker married Charity Bratt on October 12, 1852, inSt. Joseph County, Indiana.The couple had two children, Clems and Eddie, who both died in infancy.[7]His wife died on March 17, 1863, in South Bend. Studebaker married Anna Harper Milburn in September 1864, in South Bend. His wife's father was George Milburn, president of the Milburn Wagon Company. This marriage produced three children: George Milburn Studebaker (1865-1939), Anne Studebaker Carlisle (1868-1931) andClement Studebaker Jr.(1871-1932). George and Clement Jr. founded theSouth Bend Watch Company.[5][8]

Studebaker was aMethodistand was twice a delegate to theGeneral Conferenceof the Methodist church.[5]He also went by the name "Clem".[3]

In spring of 1900, Studebaker traveled Europe and traveled toAix-les-Bainsin southern France under the advice ofAndrew CarnegieandJ. P. Morgan.[3]Studebaker died at his home in South Bend on November 27, 1901.[8][5][9][10]Studebaker was buried at the Studebaker-Milburn Mausoleum at theSouth Bend City Cemetery.[3][11]Some of the Studebakers were moved from the City Cemetery and Studebaker was buried atRiverview Cemeteryin South Bend.[12][13]

Legacy

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Several months after Studebaker's death in 1901, St. Paul's Memorial United Methodist Church was completed in South Bend. Studebaker had contributed the funds to build the church in memory of his father-in-law, George Milburn. The completed church was dedicated in 1903.[5][citation needed]

In 1911, Studebaker acquired theEveritt-Metzker-Flanders CompanyofDetroit,later forming theStudebaker Corporation.[6]: p.70 The late Clement's son,Clement Studebaker Jr.,had served on the E-M-F Company's board[4]and at some time had a position on Studebaker's board.[14]

By 1916 Clement Studebaker Jr. had also become president and chairman of the utility,North American Light and Power Company.He served in other executive positions as well, including as the president and chairman of theIllinois Power and Light Company(and of its subsidiary, theIllinois Traction Company), as well as treasurer of theChicago and South Bend Railroad.[4]

In 1889, Clement Studebaker completed construction of a 26,000-square-foot (2,400 m2) mansion on West Washington Street in South Bend and named itTippecanoe Place(probably in honor of the Family settlement near Tipp City, Ohio).[5][12][citation needed]The mansion has been carefully restored and converted to a restaurant.[12]

References

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  1. ^German Americans, Studebaker,usaembassy.de
  2. ^The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography.Vol. XI. James T. White & Company. 1909. p. 109.RetrievedJanuary 6,2021– via Google Books.
  3. ^abcdefghij"Long-Life Ended".The South Bend Tribune.November 27, 1901. p. 1.RetrievedNovember 16,2022– viaNewspapers.Open access icon
  4. ^abcdeNorth American Light and Power Company 1916 - signed by Clement Studebaker,Scripophily
  5. ^abcdefghijklm"Studebaker is Dead".The Indianapolis Journal.November 28, 1901. p. 3.RetrievedNovember 16,2022– viaNewspapers.Open access icon
  6. ^abcLongstreet, Stephen.A Century on Wheels: The Story of Studebaker.New York: Henry Holt and Company. p. 121. 1st edn., 1952.
  7. ^According toConways of IrelandArchivedOctober 5, 2011, at theWayback Machinegenealogy. Daughter Clems appears to have been born and died many months before the marriage.
  8. ^abStudebaker, ClementArchivedMarch 6, 2009, at theWayback Machineat Pennsylvania Center for the Book (Pennsylvania State University)
  9. ^"Clement Studebaker Buried. Funeral from His Home at South Bend".The New York Times.December 1, 1901.RetrievedSeptember 8,2012.The funeral of Clement Studebaker was held this afternoon. Before the services, thousands of citizens viewed the body, which lay in state at the Studebaker...
  10. ^"Studebaker is Dead".Indianapolis Journal.South Bend, Indiana. November 28, 1901. p. 3.RetrievedJanuary 6,2021– via Newspapers.
  11. ^"Studebaker's Burial".The Indianapolis Journal.December 1, 1901. p. 4.RetrievedNovember 16,2022– viaNewspapers.Open access icon
  12. ^abc"Meet Clement Studebaker".The Studebaker National Museum.November 17, 2020.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2022.RetrievedNovember 16,2022.
  13. ^"History:Hidden in City Cemetery".South Bend Tribune.May 28, 2012. p. A8.RetrievedNovember 16,2022– viaNewspapers.Open access icon
  14. ^in A R Erskine's official history of Studebaker
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