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 Man ...

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

St. Joseph, Missouri St. Joseph is a city in and county seat of Buchanan County, Missouri, Buchanan County, Missouri, United States. A small portion of the city extends north into Andrew County, Missouri, Andrew County. Located on the Missouri River, it is the princ ...

, 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 Ashland County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is approximately 66 miles southwest of Cleveland. The population was 19,225 at the 2020 census. It is the center of the Ashland Micropolitan statistical area, wh ...

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

South Bend, Indiana South Bend is a city in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, and its county seat. It lies along the St. Joseph River (Lake Michigan), St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. It is the List of cities in ...

, 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–Mish ...

, 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 and fictional characters * Henry (given name), including lists of people and fictional characters * Henry (surname) * Henry, a stage name of François-Louis Henry (1786–1855), French baritone Arts and entertainmen ...

and Clement. 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. He campaigned two months for James A. Garfield during the

1880 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 2, 1880. Republican Party (United States), Republican nominee James A. Garfield defeated Winfield Scott Hancock of the Democratic Party (Uni ...

Personal life

Studebaker married Dora Handley of

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

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

Episcopalian Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protes ...

. 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 in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,488 at the 2020 census. It was incorporated as the Village of Alma in 1872 and became a city in 1905. Alma hosts the annual Highland Festival on Memo ...

, in October 1897. He died in Alma on October 9, 1897. He was buried at South Bend City Cemetery.

Legacy

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 2020 census, the population was 19,810. The county seat is Rockport. Despite not being in the Owensboro Metropolitan Area, the entire riverfront of the city of Owen ...

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

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Studebaker, Peter 1836 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 Episcopalians from Indiana