Clement Studebaker

Clement Studebaker (March 12, 1831 – November 27, 1901) was an American carriage manufacturer. With his brothers, he founded H & C Studebaker Company, which built Pennsylvania-German conestoga wagons^[1] and carriages during his lifetime, and automobiles after his death, in South Bend, Indiana.

Biography

Clement Studebaker was born on March 12, 1831, in Pinetown, Pennsylvania. By the age of 14 he had learned to work as a blacksmith in his father's shop. He later worked as a teacher. In 1852, Clement and his elder brother Henry opened the H & C Studebaker blacksmith shop at the corner of Michigan and Jefferson Streets in what is now the heart of downtown South Bend, Indiana.^[2]

During the California Gold Rush, Clement Studebaker's brother, John Mohler Studebaker ("J.M.") went to California, where he was successful making wheelbarrows for gold miners.^[2]

In 1858 he returned from California, and bought out his brother Henry's interest. ^[3] Brother Peter soon joined the business as well. At this time, the brothers were filling wagon orders for the U.S. Army, which they continued throughout the Civil War.^[2]

In 1868 they renamed the blacksmith shop the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, and it eventually became the largest wagon manufacturer in the world. Studebaker also became the only manufacturer of horse-drawn vehicles to successfully switch to gasoline powered vehicles.^[2]

In 1870 a fifth brother, Jacob Franklin Studebaker, joined the company and established its first branch office at St. Joseph, Missouri, serving westward-bound settlers.^[3]

By 1885, production by the Studebaker company reached 75,000 units.^[2]

By 1887, sales surpassed US$2 million.^[2] Clement, Sr. died in 1901, aged 70, and in the following year of 1902, Studebaker entered the automobile market, with their first electric car.^[2]

Clement Studebaker married Charity Bratt October 12, 1852 in St. Joseph Co., IN. The couple had two children, Charity and Eddie, who both died at an early age. Charity died on March 17, 1863 in South Bend. Clement married Anna (Milburn) Harper on September, 1864 in South Bend. This marriage produced three children: George Milburn Studebaker (1865-1939), Anne Studebaker Carlisle (1868-1931) and Clement Studebaker, Jr. (1871-1932). George and Clement, Jr. founded the South Bend Watch Company. Clement Studebaker died in his South Bend, Indiana home on November 27, 1901 of natural causes. ^[4]

Legacy

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.

In 1904, Studebaker began producing its first gasoline-powered cars.^[2]

In 1911, Studebaker joined forces with the Everitt-Metzker-Flanders Company of Detroit to form the Studebaker Corporation.^[3] The late Clement's son, Clement Studebaker, Jr., served on the E-M-F Company's board.^[2]

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 the Board of the Illinois Power and Light Company (and of its subsidiary, the Illinois Traction Company), and of the South Bend Watch Company, as well as Treasurer of the Chicago and South Bend Railroad.^[2]

The Studebaker company continued to produce wagons until 1920, when the automobile production was moved from Detroit to South Bend.^[2]

Tippecanoe Place mansion

In 1889, Clement Studebaker completed construction of a 26,000-square-foot (2,400 m²) mansion in South Bend and named it "Tippecanoe Place" (probably in honor of William Henry Harrison). The mansion was eventually restored and turned into a restaurant.

References

External links

• StudebakerHistory.com
• Tippecanoe Place