John Studebaker
Encyclopedia
John Mohler Studebaker (1833-1917) was the German
-American
co-founder and later executive of what would become the Studebaker Corporation
automobile
company. He was the third son of the founding Studebaker family and played a key role in the growth of the company during his years as president
, from 1868 until his death in 1917.
to John S. and Rebecca Mohler Studebaker, and moved to Ashland County, Ohio
with his family in 1836. While his two elder brothers Henry and Clem became blacksmiths, John went to Placerville, California
, lured by stories of the gold rush
. After arriving, he realized that much mining employment in California had been taken, and he accepted an opportunity to manufacture wheelbarrows for miners, earning himself the nickname of “Wheelbarrow Johnny”. The site of John's business is now number 142 of California's Historic Landmarks.
John went to South Bend, Indiana
in 1852 and contributed $8,000 he had made in California to his brothers' funds to expand the Studebaker Wagon Corporation. They began to supply wagons for the Union Army
in the American Civil War
, becoming the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1868, with John as its president.
In December 1901, at the age of 68, John was the last survivor of the founding family and, after a visit to a motor show in Chicago
, he began to accept the urging of his son-in-law Fred Fish that electric cars, initially, would be the future of the Studebaker company. In 1902, five battery-powered-models were made, and 20 were sold, including one which John owned personally.
Fish, who married John Studebaker's daughter Grace in 1891, had joined the company and provided the impetus for production of 'horseless carriages'. In 1904 he and John negotiated a deal with Garford of Elyria, Ohio
to put Studebaker bodies on gasoline-powered chassis, creating the Studebaker-Garford
brandname. By 1907 market gains by cars had begun to overtake those of wagons. The following year, Studebaker purchased a third of the Everitt Metzger Flanders Company
, a forerunner to General Motors
, and entered into a distribution agreement. By 1909, Studebaker had made 9.5 million dollars from distributing horseless vehicles manufactured in co-operation with other companies, and acquired the remainder of E.M.F from J.P. Morgan & Co.
in 1910, thus taking over the company. In 1911 the company refinanced and reincorporated as the Studebaker Corporation, producing gasoline-driven automobile
s, discontinuing electric vehicles but retaining production of wagons and carriages. John stated:
On the outbreak of World War I
, John telegrammed president
Woodrow Wilson
to offer the Studebaker facilities as a site for war material production, and the company went on to manufacture military vehicles throughout the war. John was still serving as honorary president when he died in 1917, at aged 83. His name was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
-American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
co-founder and later executive of what would become the Studebaker Corporation
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
company. He was the third son of the founding Studebaker family and played a key role in the growth of the company during his years as president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, from 1868 until his death in 1917.
Working career
John Mohler Studebaker was born in Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaGettysburg, Pennsylvania
Gettysburg is a borough that is the county seat, part of the Gettysburg Battlefield, and the eponym for the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The town hosts visitors to the Gettysburg National Military Park and has 3 institutions of higher learning: Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg College, and...
to John S. and Rebecca Mohler Studebaker, and moved to Ashland County, Ohio
Ashland County, Ohio
Ashland County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States, and was formed in 1846 from parts of Huron, Lorain, Richland and Wayne Counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 53,139. Its county seat is Ashland...
with his family in 1836. While his two elder brothers Henry and Clem became blacksmiths, John went to Placerville, California
Placerville, California
Placerville is the county seat of El Dorado County, California. The population was 10,389 at the 2010 census, up from 9,610 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, lured by stories of the gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. After arriving, he realized that much mining employment in California had been taken, and he accepted an opportunity to manufacture wheelbarrows for miners, earning himself the nickname of “Wheelbarrow Johnny”. The site of John's business is now number 142 of California's Historic Landmarks.
John went to South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
in 1852 and contributed $8,000 he had made in California to his brothers' funds to expand the Studebaker Wagon Corporation. They began to supply wagons for the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, becoming the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company in 1868, with John as its president.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, he began to accept the urging of his son-in-law Fred Fish that electric cars, initially, would be the future of the Studebaker company. In 1902, five battery-powered-models were made, and 20 were sold, including one which John owned personally.
Fish, who married John Studebaker's daughter Grace in 1891, had joined the company and provided the impetus for production of 'horseless carriages'. In 1904 he and John negotiated a deal with Garford of Elyria, Ohio
Elyria, Ohio
-Community:Elyria has an extensive, although financially burdened, community food pantry and "Hot Meals" program administered through the Second Harvest Food Bank and several churches Elyria is served by Elyria Memorial Hospital.-Recreation and parks:...
to put Studebaker bodies on gasoline-powered chassis, creating the Studebaker-Garford
Studebaker-Garford
Studebaker-Garford was an automobile produced jointly by the Garford Company of Elyria, Ohio and the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana from 1904 through 1911...
brandname. By 1907 market gains by cars had begun to overtake those of wagons. The following year, Studebaker purchased a third of the Everitt Metzger Flanders Company
E-M-F Company
The E-M-F Company was an early American automobile manufacturer that produced automobiles from 1909 to 1912. The name E-M-F was gleaned from the initials of the three company founders: Barney Everitt , William Metzger , and Walter Flanders .- Everitt...
, a forerunner to General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
, and entered into a distribution agreement. By 1909, Studebaker had made 9.5 million dollars from distributing horseless vehicles manufactured in co-operation with other companies, and acquired the remainder of E.M.F from J.P. Morgan & Co.
J.P. Morgan & Co.
J.P. Morgan & Co. was a commercial and investment banking institution based in the United States founded by J. Pierpont Morgan and commonly known as the House of Morgan or simply Morgan. Today, J.P...
in 1910, thus taking over the company. In 1911 the company refinanced and reincorporated as the Studebaker Corporation, producing gasoline-driven automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
s, discontinuing electric vehicles but retaining production of wagons and carriages. John stated:
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, John telegrammed president
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
to offer the Studebaker facilities as a site for war material production, and the company went on to manufacture military vehicles throughout the war. John was still serving as honorary president when he died in 1917, at aged 83. His name was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame.