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

over TO Mr.. Pine. The animal was
decorated with ribbons and a parade
was formed, which circulated over
the principal streets Of the city, the
COW leading the line of march. The
animal was later turned over 10 the
ladies' Benevolent society and was
sold and resoid Several times and
the receipts were used in aiding the
poor of South Bend. In 1880. Mr..
Studebaker served as a member OF
the water works board and devoted
much OF his time to the citys in
terests although the business of the
| Studebaker Brothers was increasing
steadily and most of his time was
I demanded at the plant.
Howard park is largely the result
I OF Mr.. Studebaker's generosity TO the
I city. In 1902. after much of the
property had been secured he do
mated two lots and $4,000 TO aid
in developing the park. Later he
added two more lots. He had always
shown a deep interest in the park
proposition and from the first the
movement to establish Fairgrounds
for the people has met with his
hearty approval
| Donates Fountain.
An electric fountain at Howard
park was donated by Mr.. Studebaker.
The dedication was made on July q,
1906, and between 5000 and 10000
people were present. Mayor Edward
/ j. Fogarty introduced the speaker.
In talking of mis- career, Mr. Stude-
baker then said: "Fifty-six years ago
today 1 landed in South Bend as
poor a boy as stands before me
tonight? The only shoes | wore were
those God had given me. / lived
with my parents in a log cabin and
/ there are men and women here to-
| day who can remember il. I got up
| at 4 o'clock in the morning and
, walked one or two miles in the
woods before l cut my two cords of
wood a day That is the way l got
my start. The opportunity for young
| men then was not very great or
! promising. IL is better today. Times
have changed il is true, but the OPP
portunities are here Just the same
The trouble is that men do not avail
I themselves OF them. and are not
willing to work as il is necessary
/ to fain a start in life. and often
times fail to save and store away
I their earnings"
The life work of Mr.. StudebakeT
has been to create the Studebaker
/ company into the largest wagon
manufacturing concern in the coun-
try. In 1852, when the company was
! first organized two wagons were
built Today the output is more than
! a hundred thousand vehicles an
nually.
The government gave them their
first great order in 1864. The wagons
they turned out were satisfactory
and their business began 70 increase
by leaps and bounds at once. In
1858. the brothers incorporated as
company with a capital stock Of
S75. 900.
During the years they have been
in business several costly fires have
visited their plants. In 1872, their
frame factory north of the Lake
Shore was destroyed by FIRE. entail
ing a loss Of $50, 900. The plant was
I eItNAeu south OF the Lake CnoA z
where they now stand. In 1874 an
other fire visited the plant and the
loss amounted to SS5O.O 600. including
400 wagons.
Factory Grows.
Out OF these ruins grew the pres
eut factory where every modern
equipment is used in getting the wa
CONS on the market In 1891 the
company began manufacturing har-
ness and in 1906 the business was
incorporated under the name OF the
Studebaker Harness Co. In 1902 the
company keeping march with the
/ progress OF the day embarl1ed in the
automobile business and today the
Studebaker automobile is sold all
over this country and enjoys the
same reputation as does the Stude-
baker wagon.
J. NJ. Studebaker served as pres
ident OF the company for many
years. The same policies prevailed
while ne was head OF the corpora
ton. Only the best of materials went
into the construction OF the wagons
turned ont nv this cOmpany and care