USA > Indiana > St Joseph County > An Illustrated historical atlas of St. Joseph Co., Indiana > Part 8
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Henry is the oldest of the brothers. In 1858, he retired from the concern and became a farmer. His bucolic occupation, be- passed through fourteen machines, and under the manipulation of sides being reasonably profitable, has developed him into the con- twenty-three men. The axles and all other appliances are turned, dition of a quiet and happy country gentleman, " sans peur sans re- shaped and fitted by machinery, one part being the exact counter- part of thousands of others. Thus the wagon is constructed sim- ply as a machine and science and art combined to simplify, faci- litate and ennable its production. In the smithy the iron is soon
applied. Little forging is required. Manual labor is in every possible way economized by the steam engine and machinery. " Clem," is scarcely forty-four years of age. In build, they are not large but compact, muscular, and vigorous, Mentally and physically they are capable of great endurance. The habits of in- dustry which they early attained are still preserved, as are, also, employed in the carriage factory, making in all one hundred and thirty in daily use. many of the simple habits of their childhood. They are the first at the works in the morning and the last at night. They dine
When it is considered that this factory, though much the at midday in accordance with early habits and the sensible dic- tates of nature. No detail is too insignificant for their notice; no combination too intricate for their comprehension. They have a
largest, is only one among many in our country, it may seem that
to find a market for the products would be a difficult matter. It
is not so. Such a perfect system of business relations has been very good knowledge of men as well as things, and exercise ex- established, that sales and collections are made with the utmost cellent judgment in calling helpers to their aid. Their reputa- sweep, but only by persistent labor and fair dealing. It is, there- ease. Depots of supply are maintained at several business cen- tion as men of morality and virtue is above reproach. They are fore, only possible that this great company should have attained its present proportions as the outgrowth of a small beginning, and such is the fact. Experience and confidence made up about the
supporters of all schemes for the moral, social, educational, or ma- terial progress of their vicinage. In social life, they are earnest genial, christian gentlemen, and notwithstanding their great busi, ness responsibilities, they enjoy social comingling with ahearty
souri, San Francisco and Sacramento, California. Several reliable
tention to this branch. . The result is that the market is always in zest.
sum total of net gains for several years. Then, little by little, and experienced agents also give their personal and constant at- material accumulations were realized. Anon, as a natural se- quence, the business assumed large proportions, and became very advance of the supply, and it is often found difficult to fill accu- profitable. Skilled mechanics graduated from the forge and anvil mulated orders. Thus, the excellence of the work is such, and is and became manufacturers. The unpretending shop was merged 'so well known that it is itself its own advertisement.
And so we close, wishing the members of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, individually and collectively long life, prosperity, and happiness.
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The loss to the proprietors of these works, by the fires of 1872 and 1874, was very great, aggregating almost $450,000, only about one- third of which was covered by insurance. The loss by the fire of 1874 was about $350,000. Of course, so sad a misfortune had a de- pressing effect upon the brothers and their associates. This, how- ever, was but momentary. Immediately recovering their self as- surance, they resolved to re-build on a much larger scale than be- fore. Disregarding many flattering proffers of aid, if they would establish themselves elsewhere, they determined to seek their lost fortune on the ground where it had disappeared. Here they had resided for nearly a quarter of a century. Here they had built their homes and here were centered those cherished associations
cess, they entered upon the work of recuperation, In the short term of four months, they had not only nearly completed their immense structure, but had, also, made over 2,500 vehicles. Im- mediately, no doubt the disaster was a great misfortune, but there are indications already, that in the long run, it will prove to have been a blessing in disguise. It has tested the sincerity of their friends, imbued them with that strength and determination which only springs from adversity and what is more important than all the rest, has arrested that process of disentegration which had ! already commenced, and has bound the brothers together anew, as with hooks of steel. Not that it should even be intimated that there were any inharmonies between them ; on the contrary, that uniform cordiality and singleness of purpose which they have al- ways observed have forined a very important factor in their bust- They have thus entered upon a new career of use- sarily carry them to a point far beyond that hitherto attained.
It is impossible to compute the advantages of these works to the City of South Bend. To them the city is indebted for a large
Studebaker Brothers where the first manufacturers on a large scale. They gave tone and importance to the city; they adver- 412,000 tised it and the inducements here offered to other industries. They were the cause, immediate or remote, of large business ac- cessions. They gave, and still give, employment to an army of industrious men, thus benefitting the general trade of the place. They have contributed in various ways to the prosperity of the city, 625,000 and by their example have stimulated thrift and enterprise. Stu- 896,000
ful eye upon municipal affairs. Only recently, they saved the city nearly $100,000, by the negotiation of a loan for water-works pur- poses. All needful improvements, whether touching their pock- ets or not, receive their hearty co-operation and support. Yet they are not prodigal, either in private or public expenditures. They are strict adherents to the doctrine of utility. Hence, though recently in favor and really the promoters of a system of water-works in the city, they opposed the erection of a stand pipe, which they regarded as an unsightly excrescence, worthy only of antiquity or ignorance. They were defeated, however, in their efforts to benefit the public in this regard, and they claim the city suffers to the amount of many thousands of dollars.
It would be both interesting and proper in this article, which
the boring machine reduces it to a cylinder, and another makes is to remain, undoubtedly, for many years, as a sort of landmark in the history of South Bend, to give at least a brief biography of the mortices with the utmost exactness. While this is going on still other machines are perfecting the spokes and felloes. Then each of the Brothers Studebaker. Space will not permit. Some things, however, in a general way, may be properly said, even at the risk of partial reiteration.
proche." The names of the other four brothers are already re- corded, as are also, briefly, their doings and their business charac- teristics. They are now in the prime of life and business useful- ness. The eldest of them, Clement, or, as he is fannliarly known,
year Mr. Smyser retired, and the name of H. & C. Studebaker was resumed. Soon after, however, and in 1854, Mr. Israel Hoge became associated with the brothers, and the style of Studebakers & Hoge was adopted. In 1855 Mr. Hoge went out, and the firmn name became, for the third time, H. & C. Studebaker. This re- lation continued until 1858, when another brother appeared upon the stage, and Henry sold his interest to John M. Studebaker. For about six years, or till 1864, the business was conducted un-
1870
6,505
260
573,000
1872
6,950
325
40 feet.
putty joints had not then become even respectable among mechan- ics and manufacturers. Thus, time went on, the father gaining little, pecuniarily, but giving his boys an education and a training such as money cannot buy. The family of boys had increased to five, and business prospects, in Ohio, had decreased to about zero. The old hive was over-stocked, and the swarming process was decided upon.
Summer of 1874 a brick block, 88 by go feet, four stories high, ness success.
was erected on the corner of Michigan and Jefferson streets, fulness which, if interrupted by no unforseen event, inust, neces-
5,115
ters in the west, whence distribution to lesser points are easily and rapidly made. Among the former are Chicago, St. Joseph, Mis-
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GEORGE W. LOCKE was born October 27, 1816, in Huntington County,
in 1818, and moved to Obio, and settled in Harrison Connty. The country was
He is a mason by trade, and resides in South Bend. Indiana. His son Georg.
W., was in the army during the Rebellion. Heenlisted at the first cait of Presi
dent Lincoln, and served till the Rebellion was erushed. He was a musician VIII. KATURIA married John Junkins, and has two daughters; resides in St. Catherine's, Canada. He is a merchant.
gaged in agriculture, and were among the wealthiest tillers of the soil. His grandfather, Thomas Locke, left New Jersey, and moved his family into civil and political matters of the country. He kept a file of the first newspapers
Pennsylvania, and settled in Huntington County, about one hundred years ago. His brother, Philip Locke, served seven years in the Revolutionary War, and influential men in the state. He bad a family of five children, two of whom are was in many of the heaviest engagements under Washington ; and at the con- now living, and reside in Obio.
clusion of the war, received a soldier's claim in Obio, where Cbilicothe now
stands. Having died sine parole, his heirs did not put in their claim until the five children. One of the sons enlisted in the Union Army during the great
statute of limitation barred their right of recovery.
Thomas Locke, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, became blind
near the latter part of bis life, and died aged over one hundred years. His father was a carpenter and boat builder, and is now engaged in the milling business, was a Baptist preacher, and was a man of considerable note and influence in his and resides in Iowa. Two of his sons were in the Union Army during the Re-
day. Thomas Locke left a family of four boys and four girls. His son, Philip Locke, the father of Mr. Locke, was born in Pennsylvania, home in the "Sunny South."
IV. EMILY died at the age of fourteen.
V. GEORGE W. (the subject of this sketch).
VI. HANNAH died aged about twenty.
VII. SOPHIA married Augustus Buchar, and had a family of nine children.
Mr. Locke, the subject" of this sketch, at the age of two, moved with his father to Harrison County, Ohio, where be spent his youth and early manhood receiving bis education in the log school-bonses, with paper window lights, slab seals, stick chimneys, and sometimes traveled the distance of three miles, morn- ing and evening, in order to secure the advantages which the above institution furnished, What a bardship would this be to the children of the present day
1874
FARM RESIDENCE OF GEORGE W. LOCK ESQ. PORTAGE TP. ST JOSEPH CO. IND.
Mr. Locke married, first, March 8, 1838, Mary Bolan, wbo was born August
V. ELIZABETH ELLEN, born May 2, 1849, inarried William H. Ulery, fIndiana, in 1844, and first settled in South Bend, and worked at & trade for a 7, 1818, She was the daughter of James Bolan, now n resident of St. Joseph January 15, 1869, and bas Otadel, born November 15, 1869. He is a farmer, wbile. But after a year or two he engaged in the purchase anti sale of real County, They had the following family :
and resides in German Township.
I. MARGARET, born March 3, 1839, married April 2, 1857, John S. Stoll, and has Alice, born January 17, 1858, Mary R., born April 5, 185g. Grant,
VI. GEORGE W., born June 15, 1851 ; died aged two years.
estate, and carried it on to a considerable extent, and finally bought the place wbere be now resides. The buildings were of no account, and he erected a sub-
VII. JOHN P., born January 27, 1853 ; was edacated at the High School at stantial and commodions farm mansion-a lithograph of which appears above. born 1863, died 1865 (?). Son, unnamed. Mr. Stull is a farmer ; resides in South Bend ; resides with his father.
Centre Township, St. Joseph County.
VIII, GEORGIA ANN, born January 30, 1855 ; died at the age of two.
He subsequently bailt a barn, horse barn, corn crib, etc., and his residence, sitn- ated on the old Michigan road, about two miles northwest of the City of South
Mrs. Locke died October 16, 1865. She was an excellent woman, a loving Bend, is one of the finest in the county. The city is in full view from the top mother, and was held in high esteem by the community. Her life was esemplary, of the bonse, and the surrounding scenery is decidedly beautiful and charming. and she died in the triumphs of the faith.
Mr. Locke married, secondly, Maggie Robins, daughter of Daniel Robins, offwheat crop ranges from thirty to fifty acres ; corn from twenty to forty ; and farmer. Resides in Berrien County, Michigan.
Ora M., born November 23, 1865. Roc Ly, horn August 23, 1870. He is a Wood County, Obio. Mr. Rohins was a prominent farmer, and was Justice of potatoes, oats, garden-sauce fair, and fruit escellent.
the Peace in his enunty for more than twenty years. They have no children.
Mr. Locke is not an office seeker, and has declined the offers that have been
IV. MARY, born December g. 1844, married November 12, 1868, Wesley Barrett ; has Willey May, born August 30, 1869. Mr. Barrett was a farmer, and resided in St. Joseph County, and died March 25, 1873, aged 30. His father. Was one of the first settlers on Sumption's Proirie. Mr. Barrett volunteered in the Union Army during the Rebellion, and was in the service three years. He which office be held for three years. He then moved to Seneca County, and be delightful valley of the St. Joseph is well merited.
Mr. Locke went from Harrison Connty, Obio, to Wayne County, where he urged upon bim to take public trusts. He has beld some of the minor offices, lived three years, and was married to his first wife. Here he worked at the car- soch as Township Trustee, Supervisor, etc., but be is too much engaged in his pentering business. He then returned to Tuscarorn County, and finished histown affairs to trouble himself with polities, . His home is his kingdom. Nothing trade with his brother at Urichsville. Here be was one of the town councilmen, excels the beantiful farming lands of Northern Indiana, and the reputation of was bighly respected by the community, and his loss was severely felt in thel kept a hotel three years at West Lodi. Tbence be moved to St. Joseph County, family. Mrs. Barrett now resides with her father.
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in New Jersey, many years before the Revolutionary War ; and on bis mother's side, his ancestors came from Germany, and settled in Pennsylvania. They en-
His family consisted of five boys and five girls, as follows :
L JOHN married Naney Mnswell, daughter of Judge Maxwell, of Harrison County, Ohio, an old settler in that county, and was thoroughly posted in the
ever published in the county, and was regarded one of the most prominent and
IX. WILLIAM married and has one child, He is a farmer, and resides in Union Township, St. Joseph Coanty, Indiana. See bis sketch in another part of this volume.
X. SARAH JANE died in infancy.
XI. MATILDA married Isaiah Vandenhoof, and bas two children, and resides
in South Bend. He bas a farm in Clay Townsbip.
The father of the above family resided in Obio, until about 1836, when be Rebellion, and was killed in battle. They reside in Ohio. III. JOSHUA married Margaret Ross, and has a family of six children. He moved to Wayne County, Ohio, and thence, in 1844, to St. Joseph County, Indi- ana, and settled in Portage Townsblp, south of the bend, and engaged in agri- culture. About 1852 be moved to Henry County, Illinois, hut returned to St. bellion. One of them was so much pleased with the country that be makes his Joseph County the following year, and died in 1866, aged abont eighty-three."
about the year 1783. He lived with his father during his minority, and engaged in farming. About twenty-one years of age, he married Jemima Tipton, daughter of John Tiptoo, of Pennsylvania, whose nephew, Thomas Tipton, is United States Senator from Nebraska at the present time (1874). He left Pennsylvania
II. THOMAS married Susan Locke, a distant relative, and has a family of
Pennsylvania. His ancestors on his father's side came from England, and settled a wilderness, and Indians, and wolves, and wild game were abundant.
II. RICHARD M. J., born March 1, 1841, rmarried January 8, 1862, Sarah Davis, and has Franklin. Resides in Portage Township. He is a farmer. III. MATILDA, born December 3, 1842, married November 29, 1866, Jacob Miller, son of Elder James Miller, an old settler in St. Joseph County, and has.
His bome farm consists of one hundred and thirty-four acres, and bis annual
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
LESTER WEBSTER was born December 2, 1799, in nia, where he remained three and a half years, engaged in the children; married, secondly, Miss H. Keeler, and had five child- New Lebanon, New York. mining business with some considerable success. He returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York, reaching home The tradition concerning his ancestry is that two brothers em- igrated from England or Wales to America in the early days of after an absence of four years and four months. the colonies, and one of them settled in Connecticut, near Hart- ford, and the other settled in one of the more southern states.
From the tradition given by Samuel B. Webster, of La Porte county, Indiana, it appears the brother who went south settled in Virginia. (See Higgins, Belden & Co.'s Illustrated Historical Atlas of La Porte county, p. 48.)
improvements. He is now the owner of 170 acres of land, in differ-
5. Elizabeth, married Michael Smith, a picture of whose resi- ent localities, and has cleared and improved a fine farm. Its chief dence may bee seen in this volume.
6. Samuel, died young.
II. Benjamin, married Easter Hunter; had a large family of fifteen children ; resides in Columbia county, Pa. The family are scattered all over the country.
III. Ann, married Elijah Robins, had a family, moved to Ohio, and died there.
IV. Hugh, died unmarried.
V. Charlotte, married John Dougherty ; had one child ; died in Pennsylvania.
This is the tradition that Mr. Webster has received from his ter Webster's sketch.)
grandfather. Noah Webster kept a genealogy of the family, and at one time copied for Aaron Webster the family history, and the relationship existing between these parties.
Mr. Webster remembers visiting, when he was a boy, Noah Webster's book store in Albany, New York, and received from the venerable lexicographer a slate, arithmetic, and some small books as a present.
Mr. Webster remained in New Lebanon, New York, until he reached his fourteenth year, and then moved with the rest of the family to Cherry Valley, New York, where he engaged in farming. Here he lived until he was twenty-four years of age. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of New York, which at that time were ratber uncertain institutions.
He was first married in his twenty-second year to Caroline Dickinson, daughter of James and Huldah Dickinson, formerly of New Lebanon, Columbia county, New York. She was a distant relative of the Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson, United States Senator, of Binghampton, New York.
After his marriage he engaged in the carpentering business, and built many of the houses in his vicinity, in the Genesee coun- try, to which region he had previously moved. He settled in East Henrietta, near Rochester, New York, about the year 1825, and remained there about ten years, and then removed, in 1835, to St. Joseph county, Indiana, where he purchased one hundred and seventy acres, upon which he subsequently built the barns and the farm mansion which appear in this volume. 'There were no improvements upon this farm except a small log cabin, and ten or twelve acres of girdled trees. He cleared about one hun- dred and twenty-five acres, a part of which was heavy timbered land, and the balance oak openings. During the past thirty years his wheat crop has ranged from fifteen to thirty-six acres, corn from ten to twenty-five acres. Crops of all kinds are produced abund- antly.
A portion of the time he worked at his trade, and thus lost no time, but secured the means to meet all emergencies. His place is situated about two miles southeast ol South Bend, and is ap- proached by a private lane leading from the public highway, from which to bis residence is about 150 rods.
Mrs. Webster died in St. Joseph county, April 28, 1859, and is buried in the Bowman cemetery. She was an excellent woman, and a loving mother, and her life-record is worthy of imitation.
AARON A. WEBSTER was born in Otsego county, N. Y., August 13, 1814.
His ancestors came to America among the early settlers in the New World. (See Lester Webster's genealogy on another page of this work.)
Mr. Webster was about nine years of age when his father moved into the Genesee country, N. Y., and settled at East Hen- adelphia.
rietta. Here he remained till he reached his majority, and then married Elvira Keyes, of Avon, N. Y, and by her has two chil- who married Eva J. Milburn.
Mr. Webster came into St. Joseph county, Indiana, October Rachel married Phillip Cotner; and Mary married Mr. Cotner's 21, 1835. He came with three of his brothers through Canada, brother. Thomas resided at home with his father.
with four ox teams, and was four weeks on the road. He first set- tled in Portage township, about three miles from South Bend, and and resided near Trenton, N. J.
engaged in farming.
He is now a retired farmer, and resides in South Bend.
MENZO WEBSTER was born Nov. 6, 1825, in Monroe
county, New York.
His ancestors came to America among the early settlers of the New World. He is of the same stock of Noah Webster, Daniel Moved to Edwardsburg, Mich., ,and was killed in felling the stump of a tree. His son still resides at Edwardsburg.
Webster, etc., and is descended from Gov. John Webster, who settled in Connecticut.
Mr. Webster remained in Munroe county till he was six years of age, and then moved with his father to Oneida county, N. Y., where they tarried two years, and then in 1834 emigrated to St. Josepb county, Indiana, and settled in Penn township. The and had a family as follows :
John Savidg married Elizabeth Deavitt.
Children .- I. Elizabeth. II. Benjamin. III. Ann. IV. Hugh.
V. Charlotte. VI. Thomas. VII. Enoch. VIII. John. IX. Mary. X. Sarah.
I. Elizabeth married Samuel Anderson, and has six children.
I. John married, Ist, Mary A. Watt, by whom he had three
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ship. VII. Enoch, married Margaret French, and had six or seven
Mr. Webster married Eva J. Milburn, and has Sarah, born children. He was a shoemaker by trade, and resided in More- February 4, 1872. He is engaged in farming and the lumbering land county, Pa,, where he died some years ago.
VIII. John, died in infancy.
IX. Mary, married and died shortly afterwards in Pennsylva- nia. She was a school-teacher, and was highly esteemed by all who knew her.
X. Sarah, married George Crow and had one child. She died in Ohio.
When Mr. Savidg first moved to Indiana he had compassion on the parties who related their sad experience, and loaned
or interest. He survived, however, and rode out the storm, and
Thomas Savidg, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, is in comfortable circumstances as the world goes. He is now in was a Revolutionary soldier, and aided in establishing our National his seventy-third year, and unable to do business in consequence
Independence.
He married twice; the name of his second wife was Hannah Applegate, and his family as follows :
Thomas Savidg married first Miss -, second, Hannah Ap- plegate.
Children -- First Wife-1. John; married Elizabeth Deavitt. 2. Polly ; married Thomas Howell. 3. Thomas; married and re- sided in Philadelphia. 5. Hannah; married Winson Dye. 5. William; married Miss -. 6. Racbel; married Mr. Water- man.
Children-Second Wife-7. Patty; married Joseph Keeler. 8. Richard; married Peggy Wilson.
II. Polly, who married Thomas Howell, had a family and lived in Columbia county, Pennsylvania. He was a mason by trade.
III. Thomas married and had three children, a son and two The daughters. The son, William, engaged in the book-binding busi- ness in New York, and was a very successful business man. two daughters engaged in the millinery business in Philadelphia. Mr. Savidg was a soldier in the war of 1812, and resided in Phil-
IV .. Hannah, who married Winson Dye, lived in Columbia V. David married Nancy Ward, and has Frank and William. county, Pennsylvania, and had a family. His son, Eli, came to He was a soldier in the Rebellion, and went from Minnesota
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