Peter Studebaker's wagon making trade, starting in 1736, was the foundation of the industrial revolution, the transportation industry, and the Studebaker Corporation.

This Peter Studebaker story started more than 270 years ago and is researched by land records, deeds, wills, tax records of merit, so that we can feel the direct link to the past and shed light upon on a lapse of time for an old and honored family and trade name in a country as deep-rooted as the story. The story starts before written documents, photography, books and real wheels were invented.

Although most know that Studebaker made cars, very few know Studebaker made wagons. According to scholar, John B. Rae, Studebaker wagons "grew to be the largest producer of horse-drawn vehicles in the world," and Studebaker became "the only one of 5000 wagon manufacturers to make the transition from making wagons to manufacturing automobiles. Peter Studebaker's family business that began in 1740 Bakers Lookout expanded and prospered until the business closed in 1963.   

In 1918, Albert Russel Erskin, Studebaker Corporation president, wrote the book, "History of the Studebaker Corporation", including the 1918 annual report, "Written for the information of the 3,000 stockholders of the Studebaker Corporation, the 12,000 dealers in its products living throughout the world, its 15,000 employees and numberless friends." This book was verified by lawyers and accountants and all board members and was a legal document. In the same book, Albert Russel Erskin, accurately wrote that Peter Studebaker was the “wagon-maker, which trade later became the foundation of the family fortune and the corporation which now bears his name.”

“The ancestors of the Studebaker family first arrived in America at the port of Philadelphia on September 1, 1736, on the ship Harle from Rotterdam, Holland, as shown in the original manuscripts now in the Pennsylvania State Library at Harrisburg"

This included Peter Studebaker and his wife Anna Margetha Studebaker, Clement Studebaker (Peter’s brother) and his wife, Anna Catherina Studebaker and Heinrich Studebaker (Peter's cousin).

Erskin writes about the importance of Peter Studebaker's trade, when he states, "There are few trade names in American industry older or more highly regarded than the name "Studebaker," which has always stood for quality and fair dealing, and this name today is the greatest asset the corporation owns. Buildings, machinery and operating organizations can be replaced for money, but an old and honored trade name can only be acquired by merit and through the lapse of time."

"John Studebaker, father of the five brothers [that began Studebaker Corporation] "was the son of Peter Studebaker."

Of the five brothers, the last brother alive was John Mohler Studebaker, and he was Albert Erskin's dear friend. Upon John Mohler's death, Albert Erskin replaced him as president of Studebaker Corporation and dedicated the 1918 History of the Studebaker Corporation, to John, the last living brother of the five Studebakers that formed the corporation. Erskin reiterated in his book the stories John Mohler told him of the trade secrets of Peter Studebaker.

Studebaker's motto was, "Give them more than they ask for." The strong foundation also led to fame, "Studebaker name is a household word wherever vehicles are used."

Erskin accurately acknowledged and praised Peter Studebaker's sharing his master German cutlery guild trade secrets and skills, when he showed leadership by example, teaching the family business from father to son, generation to generation. Peter's trade, the family business, included building and acquiring land for industrious farms, iron forging mills and wagon making beginning in 1740, Bakers Lookout and expanded by his descendants from Hagerstown, Maryland to South Bend, Indiana and nationwide. Peter’s trade was the stepping-stone that expanded the industrial revolution and the transportation industry that grew in gigantic proportions with the country. Thomas E. Bonsall, wrote "Much more than the story of a family business; it is also, in microcosm, the story of the industrial development of America.

Peter shared German Guild skills that changed the world

Early in the 18th century King Louis of France and the King of England acknowledged the Solingen Germany Cutlery Guild as having the greatest quality of luxury products created with the highest scientific technology in the world. Kings and queens bought the Guild's highly desired ornate swords, luxury coaches and wagons. The swords today are highly prized treasures collected and coveted by museums all over the world.

Peter's family was from in Solingen Germany. Peter's father was "Master" cutler, Johannes Staudenbecker (b.1662 - d.1728). Peters mother, Catherine Rau (b.1670 - d.1712), was also from a family of Master cutlers. Johannes and Catherine married in 1692 and had 5 children; Johann Peter, Clement, Wilhelm, Ann Catherina, and Johannes.

The Ruhr Valley of Germany in the town of Solingen, southeast of Düsseldorf has been renown since the middle ages for ironwork and blade making. Throughout the late 1600's people of that region had been subjected to war, heavy taxation and religious strife and by the early 1700's life for many was unbearable.

In Solingen, Germany, at least five generations of Studebakers followed the metal working trade, such as forging techniques, tempering or heat-treating cutting tools, and at least five generations belonged to the Cutlers Guild in which membership was restricted to certain families and trade secrets were carefully guarded. By 1729 Peter became the Master craftsman of the guild, and he took the oath that same year. “Master,” like his family before him. Departing Germany was challenging because the guilds did not want to export their professional secrets, for fear of industrial espionage.

In 1740 Peter Studebaker was the only person in America that manufactured products using the secrets of the German guild. Peter was the first to manufacture wagons using German technology. The only other reference to a German wagon maker with a forging operation was after Peter's death in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania 1757. Peter was the first to make precision-cut dovetailed logs and construction hardware with German technology. Although he used no slaves and no indentured servants, Peter was the first to set up a hydro-powered forging mill in Washington County, Maryland, along the Conococheague Creek.  He was the first to build a bridge across Conococheague Creek. He was the first to build a wagon factory and manufacture wagons at Bakers Lookout. He was the first to establish a wagon road on his Bakers Lookout property. 178 years later, He was the only person acknowledged, by the president of the world's largest wagon making company that his trade was the foundation of that company and the company's fortune.

Society built in the colonies

Peter (b.1695 Solingen Germany, d. 1753-4 Hagerstown, Maryland) Peter Married Anna Aschauer in 1725. Peter's father died in 1728. German tradition dictated, the eldest son, Peter, would inherit the family fortune. Peter, the one with the inheritance paid for passage to America on the ship, "Harle," for family, a group of hand-selected apprentices, a group from the Church of the Brethren and their families, and with them, Peter shared the secrets and the education of the guild. The plan was that all of them would go into business in America.

Peter lived the golden rule slogan, "Always give more than asked for." Peter was a member of the Church of the Brethren, organized in Germany in 1720. Many ministers lived in Bakers Lookout where church was held until a permanent church building was erected on the property. As the family business expanded, preachers, wagon-makers the descendants and the Brethren group migrated and built industrious farms, mills and churches. Peter's daughters and sons married other Brethren when they came of age. This migration is documented with drawings and legal documents in the Wierbach Manuscript.

A letter dated September 16, 1737, written by Peter Studebaker, to his relatives back in Germany indicates persons of some social and intellectual achievement; relatively few people in those days could read or write. The letter provides a detailed description of life in colonial Germantown. In the letter we find that the Peter prospering and happy with the decision to move to the colonies. Various aspects of colonial life were described, stressing that anyone willing to work hard "can make a good living here." There was a description of friendly relations with "wild Indians" and expressed high respect for their behavior commenting that, "They put to shame the majority of nominal Christians." Peter did not approve of the importation of African slaves. Peter was a conscientious objector to war. Peter said in his 1737 letter, “God Bless America”. We believe this to be the first written use of this phrase.

A religious group, later called Mormons helped to expand the Studebaker family wagon-making region and the transportation industry. Peter Jr. moved from Hagerstown Maryland to Westmorland Pennsylvania, next to Pittsburg Pennsylvania. At that time, Mormons in Pittsburg were being persecuted for their religious beliefs.  Studebakers had compassion for Mormons as their own church group, Church of the Brethren, had endured religious persecution, in Germany. The Studebaker family working with Mormon apprentices built wagons so Mormons could migrate westward. In fact the Mormons were the largest purchaser of Studebaker wagons until the army requested that Studebakers make wagons for them.

Bakers Lookout was the first forging operation to succeed without the use of slaves or indentured servants. Peter founded a guild-like society of craftsmen in the colonies. This family business grew and the industrious wagon making region and the transportation industry prospered. Success granted everyone a piece of the action.

Bakers Lookout, Peter Studebaker’s Colonial Home

The early emigrant colonists came from a land that had everything, and came to a land where there was nothing unless they made it themselves.  There were no roads, no bridges, no markets, and no conveniences. Peter located a geographic area, identical to Solingen Germany, in this new country. This location had an abundance of natural resources, rivers and timber, iron ore, massive amounts of oil shale and rich soil.

Perched high on a knoll, the first Studebaker plantation’s ideal site provided 360-degree views to eliminate unseen enemy attacks. The first Studebaker plantation, Bakers Lookout, Peter built in 1740 as an outpost and fortress. Timber, used to build home, factory, and other buildings, was quickly cleared so land could be farmed. Farmland was necessary to feed his large family. Cattle were raised to provide milk products and beef and their hides were used for leather. Bakers Lookout served as a fort, and a place to stay in wagons until houses were built. Bakers Lookout is a museum of Peter's craftsmanship with precision-cut hewn logs, tempered construction hardware, stone foundation and masonry lasting over 270 years.

The first mill, first road, first bridge

Peter Studebaker built the first hydropower forging mill mass-producing steel that utilized oil shale, limestone, iron ore and timber, constructed on the island under the bridge. This mill supplied steel for items that he created in his wagon-factory. The Maryland Historical Trust WA-I-306 documents in 04/03/2001, that there were "ruins of the mill south and west of the bridge."

The Maryland Historical Trust WA-I-306 writes 04/03/2001, that this road was "One of Washington County's earliest thoroughfares, Broadfording Road was already in existence in 1747." The wagon transportation industry boomed. On the property, Broadfording Wagon Road built in 1740 by Peter Studebaker, went directly through the property to allow access from the home to the factory and to the mill. Broadfording Wagon Road carried heavy traffic to Bakers Lookout's wagon and forging services that were instrumental to expand the west. 

The original bridge, the first bridge over the Conococheague creek, built by Peter Studebaker, the only bridge until 1817, was built of stone and hand-hewn logs. Bakers Lookout, purchased by Peter Studebaker in 1740, abutted the Conococheague creek. Peter also acquired an additional 100 acres in the 1740's, called Hopewell. This property was on the other side of Conococheague creek. This proves the bridge is on Peter's property. Both deeds may be found in Frederick County, Maryland, Land Records. The Maryland Historical Trust WA-I-306 documents in 04/03/2001, "Broadfording Bridge played an important role in stimulating transportation and commerce throughout the area." The Conococheague Bridge served as a barrier to ambush enemies, and extended Broadfording Wagon Road. The bridge became a pathway to the frontier west of Conococheague creek.

Bakers Lookout, Studebaker’s First Wagon Factory

The first Studebaker wagon factory was built in 1740 next to the home. To the east of Bakers Lookout ran a clear spring-fed creek called Troup Run. The non-freezing spring remained 57 degrees, enabling the hydro-powered forging mill to run year round to eliminate halts in production. The factory was a large triple-sized barn structure built with forging furnaces. Peter was the first person forging steel and tempering steel in the region.  

Most blacksmiths only knew how to shape steel, and without Peter's technology, other's made metal parts that were brittle and prone to breakage. Those making wheels did not have the time or the technology to let the wood age appropriately. Peter Studebaker, Master of the guild, knew how to make everything from nothing and did it all using a three-step process. ONE: Peter used oil shale to fire forging furnaces with extreme heat to extract iron from ore thereby manufacturing steel. TWO: Peter shaped the steel. THREE: Peter did something no one else did; he reheated the shaped steel creating hard durable parts, able to last for centuries.  He learned this secret from making swords with blades that last forever. Peter was the first to make tempered metal shafts, hubs, axels, and banding for wooden wheels.

These two guild secrets of Peter Studebaker's trade established the foundation of the wagon making trade, thereby the Studebaker name became famous and the respected reputation endured for centuries.

SECRET ONE: In colonial times, everyone used coal to fire foundry furnaces. More than 270 years ago, Peter Studebaker was the only person, to use oil shale to fuel his foundry furnaces that extracted iron from iron-ore to manufacture steel. By using oil shale extreme heat was produced to harden and strengthen steel.  Today, major oil companies using the same natural resources are just beginning to understand how to separate oil from shale to develop gasoline.

SECRET TWO: By placing wood near his furnaces in a separate room with a kiln type area, Peter utilized separation of oil from heated vapors to harden and quick season wood. Wood treated with tremendous heat, moisture evaporated, became durable and hard and created stability in size and shape. Oil absorbed into timber allowed bending and shaping of wood to make round wheels and spokes. Peter's secrets permitted the manufacture of durable wagon wheels and wagons far more advanced than anyone else.

It all began in Bakers Lookout. The factory produced precision-cut dovetailed hewed logs. Here Peter and his apprentices were able to manufacture substantial construction hardware, nails, tools to hewn logs, hardware that kept logs together, cutting equipment for mills, forging steel for hardware for saddles and harnessing and horseshoes, barrels for food storage, spikes, chains, pontoon barrels for floating bridges, all things to perfect long-lasting tools and wagon parts. Cattle hide, (leather) was utilized for clothing, shoes, pouches, upholstery, leather harnessing and saddles, bellows for the forging furnaces and belts that helped run the hydro-powered mill equipment. Peter developed interchangeable tools and parts, for the many styles of wagons he created. Most importantly he made wagons.

Bakers Lookout Cemetery

The remains of the 18th century, 270-year old, cemetery holds the remains of Peter Studebaker, his wives, children, cousin Heinrich and brother Clement, the Long family and many others, were buried there from 1738 until the civil war. Two headstones remain intact to remind us that all those buried in this cemetery are speaking to be remembered. 

"There is a romantic, nostalgic, pleasantly melancholy feeling to old cemeteries that is hard to define but easy to experience. Perhaps it is because we can feel the direct link to our past that no history-book, no movie, no historical fantasy can ever convey. These stones and these unkempt grounds are the hard evidence of lives that came before us. Once, these people lived and breathed, loved, worked, fought, hoped and despaired, and experienced their triumphs and failures just as we do today.  And although we seldom care to acknowledge it we will inevitably go where they have gone."

            "The Chesapeake Book of the Dead:

            Tombstones, Epitaphs, Reflections and Oddments of the Region"  

Peter turned over 100 acres and all buildings in 1751 to John Long his son-in-law. This proves he built the home on Bakers Lookout along with the factory and many out buildings, and the bridge and the road. Peter lived in Bakers Lookout, died in 1754 and is buried in Bakers Lookout private cemetery. [1751 deed]

Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown, Maryland, that arrived on the "Harle" with Peter in 1736 and was his friend served as Administrator of his Estate. Washington County, Maryland, Wills and Probate supplied the June 8, 1754 probate of Peters Studebaker's will, and lists Jonathan Hagar and Susanna Gibbons as executors.

Eugene Studebaker Wierbach writes that Peter Studebaker is buried in Bakers Lookout and describes the Bakers Lookout cemetery location, "On a slight rise to the left of the house is a small burial plot. In it are a number of rough and unlettered field stones..." Harvey Lawrence Long, whose family lived in Bakers Lookout, 1751 through 1859, described the location of the Studebaker-Long cemetery as "8 yards north of the plantation house on Bakers Lookout." Long also provides a list of many of the descendants that are buried in what he calls, "Studebaker-Long Cemetery".

Deeds

On Bakers Lookout Peter, master of the guild, built the first Studebaker home, the first Studebaker factory, and the first Studebaker mill. Broadfording Wagon Road was built to run through the property. Peter owned property on both sides of the Conococheague creek, so he built a bridge over the creek in 1747. Peter began the family business on the Bakers Lookout property where he manufactured everything, all necessities including products he made in Solingen Germany and naturally wagons. Bakers Lookout, the 1740, 100-acre land patent, Hagerstown, Maryland, was the first of many land patents to be acquired by Peter Studebaker.  

Some additional properties purchased by Peter Studebaker are listed below:

In 1740 he purchased 200 acres and called the property Bakers Purchase.

In 1740 he also purchased 100 acres and called the property Bakers Lott.

In 1743 he purchased 365 additional acres added to and called Bakers Lookout.

In 1749 Peter purchased 63 acres and called the property Shoemakers Purchase.        

In 1751 Peter purchased 100 acres and named the property Wolfs Lott.

In 1751 he purchased 100 more acres and called the property Wolfe Purchase.

In 1751 Peter purchased 100 acres and called that property Hopewell.  

In 1744 he bought 100 acres and called that property Walnut Bottom.

In 1749 Peter purchased 150 acres and called the property Strife.

Peter also purchased 50+6 acres called Bakers Delight.

Some of Peter Studebaker's property added up to 1471 acres.

Wagon making Hagerstown Maryland to South Bend Indiana

“The tax list of York County, Pennsylvania in 1798-9 showed among the taxable were Peter Studebaker, Sr. and Peter Studebaker, Jr. wagon-makers, which trade later became the foundation of the family fortune and the corporation which now bears his name.” Although Peter Studebakers life in the colonies was short, less than 18 years, the family business flourished through his descendants and apprentices expanded the vast land holdings enlarging the Studebaker family business and it’s industrious wagon-making region. Peter’s trade secrets never changed and were passed from father to son, generation to generation. The Studebaker family business plan, purchasing, again and again, vast amounts of land, on which they built industrious farms with mills and wagon making facilities and wagon selling facilities, each identical to the Bakers Lookout situation, industrious farms, lots of acres, on which one finds the necessary resources, lumber, iron ore, oil shale and land selected with stream, spring, or river to hydropower factories, mills and equipment. Peter's technology enabled expansion of the family business and famous wagon designs; Conestoga wagon and Prairie Schooner. Peter’s trade was the stepping-stone that expanded the industrial revolution and the transportation industry. Thomas E. Bonsall, wrote "Much more than the story of a family business; it is also, in microcosm, the story of the industrial development of America.

The migration and expansion of the family business “trade” is fully documented with legal documents in the Wierbach Manuscript, and is what Erskin understood when he credited the German-born immigrant Peter Studebaker as being the founder of the Studebaker trade and family fortune.