South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-17

would be more chance for his sons
IN the west.
Starts for the West
So in 1851. when John NJ Stude-
baker was Is years old the family
packed their belongings and sta rted
toward the setting sun. The Journey
was made in a wagon built by the
father The family came as far as
this city and settled down in log
cabin four miles from this city. Sup
plies were rather limited and money
was obtained by selling wood.
Mr. Studebaker was a healthy lad
and willing worker and arose at 4
o'clock every morning and cut two
cords OF wood every day before quit
ting work. The father brought the
wood 10 South Bend and disposed
OF IL at 81 a cord. In this way the
family was maintained during the
winter.
In the spring Of 1852. he entered
the employ Of John Cotton. a wa Son
maker. He stayed with Mr. Cotton
for year and the next spring join
ed a party bound for California He
furnished a wagon made by himself
and ironed by his brothers 10 pay
for his share in the enterprise. lie
left with the party intent on MAX
LR his fortune in the west
Trip PeriIOus.
The trip was a perilous one and
weary one and frought with many
hardships. The leader Of the party
died as a result OF a bite from a
scorpion and buried enroute Fin
ally the band reached Hangtown.
Calf. after being on the road for
five months and eight days. Mr.
Studebsker's assets at that time, out
side OF his personal effects. amount
ed TO so cents.
lie at once found employment as
a wagon maker with w. L. Hines.
who later became a stakeholder i'm
the Studebaker corporation and su-
perintendent OF the factories. Mr..
Studebaker showed that ne was a
good mechanic as well as a man OF
ability in a business way and he soon
became a partner in the business.
Every penny earned was made 10
count and Mr. Studebaker kept up
the system Of saving that he had
formed in his early youth. At the
end OF five years he had saved
enough TO enable him to return 10
South Bend and secure a half in
terest in the business OF the Stude-
baker Brothers. The firm name was
changed to c. & J. NJ. Studebaker.
Glenn StudebaISer did the blacksmith
work and J. NJ. did the wood work.
Fame Spreads.
The fame OF the Studebaker wagon
soon spread and the business was
constantly enlarged. Both men were
skilled mechanics and by close at
tention 20 the business soon had
more work than they could handle.
Peter F., the next younger brother
in age 10 J. NJ, was admitted to the
partnership. Jacob F. was later adj
mitted to the company. When j. NJ.
purchased a half interest in the firm.
Henry Studebaker retired and took
up farming.
Mr.. Studebaker's success was due
10 the fact that ne was always pre-
pared for the opportunity and able
20 grasp II when IL presented itself.
When in California Mr.. Studebaker
received a contract for % wlreel bar
rows at SIS each and his work was
80 satisfactory that ne was admitted
10 the partnership. He practiced
rigid economy and even went so far
as TO do his own washing The result
was that although earning only a
small salary he was able 10 save
$4,000 in five years.
Mr.. Studebaker always showed an
interest in civic affairs and his do
nations 10 the city OF South Bend
have been many and timely. lie has
lent not only his time towards MAX
ing South Bend better and larger
city but has made many donations
10 worthy causes He has been the
prime mover in the park systems
Of the city and was always ready TO
lend a hand in advancing the city's
interests.
When the city first began serious
" thinking Of installing a water
works department. Mr.. Studebaker
was interested and TOOK stand for
what he thought would be the best
system. RE was opposed 20 the stand
pipe system and bitterly fought its
installation on Vistula av.. claiming
that II was not what the promoters
OF this system claimed il 10 be.
Makes Wager.
There was much discussion as 20
the merits OF the two systems OF
water works and Mr.. Studebaker
commended that the power was not
euficient in case OF fires. He agreed
with Leighton Pine. agent for the
stand pipe system 10 stand in the
I,elfry az the Studebaker building
and allow him 20 play a one inch
sgeam on him, claiming that the
power would not be sufficient 10
send the water that high.
on Christmas day 1878. Mr.. Stude-
baker and Schuyler ColfaX and sew
eral other men took their stand on
top OF the cupola on the Studebaker
building. Five lines OF hose were
attached TO the various hydrants
nearby and the sixth stream was
allowed 10 play on the men I'm the
tupola In a short time the water
shot in the cupola and Mr.. Stude-
baker and his companions were
IL.