John Studebaker

on his 1903 Electric Studebaker, the first of the electric automobiles John Mohler Studebaker was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 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, 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 (equal to $ today) he had made in California to his brothers' funds to expand the Studebaker Wagon Corporation. including one which John owned personally. By 1909, Studebaker had made $9.5 million by distributing horseless vehicles manufactured in co-operation with other companies, His name was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame. ==Success in Ashland Carriage Company==

John Studebaker, one of the founders of the Studebaker Corporation, resided in Ashland, Ohio from 1835 to 1850. He and his family moved from Pennsylvania to Ashland, Ohio in 1835. Upon arrival, they named their new homestead on U.S. Route 250, "Pleasant Ridge," which was his mother's maiden name. John and his two older brothers Henry and Clem helped their father with their family blacksmith and carriage shop at their home. Economic times were tough for 19-year-old John. His dream was to mine for gold and became aware of the gold rush taking place out west. John built a custom carriage and traveled to California, which took five months. Upon arriving in California, he was offered a job as a wagon maker, but turned down the offer to mine for gold. He decided to build wheelbarrows for miners, and sold wheelbarrows for ten dollars each. He saved and invested $8,000 in his first company which built carriages. Studebaker's company was the largest producer of horse-drawn vehicles. It was so successful that President Lincoln and General Grant both owned Studebaker carriages. In the late 1890s the Studebaker Company converted from horse-drawn vehicles to gasoline-propelled automobiles. In the next seven years, the company sold more than 2,481 passenger cars and trucks. The Studebaker Company operated seven plants in South Bend, Detroit, Chicago, and Walkerville, Ontario, with a net profit of $30,126,600. The Studebaker Company merged with Packard in 1954. In Ashland, Ohio, a bronze plaque honoring Studebaker is on US Route 250 at the site of the family homestead, "Pleasant Ridge". In 1959 actor Gil Lasky played Studebaker in the episode "Wheelbarrow Johnny" of the syndicated television anthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. In the story line, Studebaker fails at gold mining because con men take advantage of him. His talent for making wheelbarrows paves the way for a bright future in the transportation industry. ==References==