Peter Everst Studebaker (April 1, 1836 – October 9, 1897) was treasurer and chairman for the

Studebaker Studebaker was an American wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana, with a building at 1600 Broadway, Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 as the Studebaker Brothers M ...

wagon business. He was known for helping his brothers expand the business to

St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri. Small parts of St. Joseph extend into Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the principal city of the St. Joseph Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includ ...

, Chicago and throughout the United States in the 1860s and 1870s.

Early life

Peter Everst Studebaker was born on April 1, 1836, in

Ashland, Ohio Ashland is a city in and the county seat of Ashland County, Ohio, United States, 66 miles southwest of Cleveland and 82 miles northeast of Columbus. The population was 20,362 at the 2010 census. It is the center of the Ashland Micropolitan Stat ...

, to Rebecca and John C. Studebaker. He attended schools in Ashland. Studebaker moved to

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, St. Joseph County, Indiana, on the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2020 United S ...

, in 1852 and worked as a clerk at a dry goods store. He then started a merchandising business as a peddler.

Career

In 1856, Studebaker moved to

Goshen, Indiana Goshen ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. It is the smaller of the two principal cities of the Elkhart-Goshen Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn is part of the South Bend-Elkhart-Mishawaka ...

, to open a retail business with his brother-in-law Phillip Welch. In 1860, Studebaker became a dealer for the

wagon business of his two older brothers,

Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) *Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...

and

Clement Clement or Clément may refer to: People * Clement (name), a given name and surname * Saint Clement (disambiguation)#People Places * Clément, French Guiana, a town * Clement, Missouri, U.S. * Clement Township, Michigan, U.S. Other uses * ...

. In 1864, he joined the company officially. He was then placed in charge of sales and moved to

, to establish the first retail branch of the company in 1865. The branch was organized to sell wagons to pioneers traveling west. He worked with the branch until 1872 when he moved back to South Bend. Studebaker led the sales department of the business. He helped the company expand its branches throughout the country, including its Chicago, New York and San Francisco branches. He lived in Chicago partially for a period of ten years. In 1872, Studebaker moved back to South Bend to serve as treasurer of the company. He served as chairman of the executive committee until his death. He also served as vice president of the company until his death. Following his death, his son Wilbur F. succeeded him as chairman. Studebaker was a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

. He campaigned two months for

James A. Garfield James Abram Garfield (November 19, 1831 – September 19, 1881) was the 20th president of the United States, serving from March 4, 1881 until his death six months latertwo months after he was shot by an assassin. A lawyer and Civil War gene ...

during the

1880 United States presidential election The 1880 United States presidential election was the 24th quadrennial presidential election, held on Tuesday, November 2, 1880, in which Republican nominee James A. Garfield defeated Winfield Scott Hancock of the Democratic Party. The voter tur ...

Personal life

Studebaker married Dora Handley of

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...

, in 1856. They had three children, Wilbur F., Mary R. and Dora L. His wife died in 1864 or 1865. In 1865 or 1866, Studebaker married Alice (née Woodbury) Mitchell of

White Pigeon, Michigan White Pigeon is a village in St. Joseph County, Michigan, St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 1,522 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The village is located within White Pigeon Township, Michigan, White ...

. She died in 1869. In 1871 or 1872, Studebaker married Mary Alice (née Ewing) Gunthie of South Bend. Studebaker was an

Episcopalian Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...

. Studebaker was diagnosed with heart disease in 1896. In September 1897, Studebaker suffered a heart attack while horseback riding in South Bend and a second heart attack a few days later. Studebaker sought treatment for his heart disease in

Alma, Michigan Alma is the largest city in Gratiot County, Michigan, Gratiot County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,383 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905 ...

, in October 1897. He died in Alma on October 9, 1897. He was buried at

South Bend City Cemetery The South Bend City Cemetery is a historic cemetery in South Bend, Indiana. History The South Bend City Cemetery was established in 1831, when Lathrop Taylor and Alexis Coquillard donated the land upon which it was built. Jacob Roof was the firs ...

Legacy

The grave of Nancy Hanks Lincoln, mother of President Lincoln

Studebaker donated to provide a marker in

Spencer County, Indiana Spencer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the population was 20,952. The county seat is Rockport. Despite not being in the Owensboro Metropolitan Area, the entire riverfront of the city of Owensbo ...

, for

Nancy Lincoln Nancy Hanks Lincoln (February 5, 1784 – October 5, 1818) was the mother of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Her marriage to Thomas Lincoln also produced a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Thomas Jr. When Nancy and Thomas had been married for j ...

, the mother of President Abraham Lincoln. Studebaker helped fund the Episcopal Church in South Bend.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Studebaker, Peter 1837 births 1897 deaths People from Ashland, Ohio People from South Bend, Indiana Studebaker people American founders of automobile manufacturers 19th-century American businesspeople 19th-century American Episcopalians Indiana Republicans