Previous Next Next5 Random List Sites Join Ring	Welcome to the Studebaker Family home page! The Studebaker family came to America from Germany in 1736. Their first contact with American soil was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While in Germany they were sword and blade makers. The Studebaker ancestors homeland was Solingen in the Rhur Valley area of Germany. Religion has been a strong and motivating factor in the lives of the Studebaker Family. It is well to go back and review the history and influence of the church, and especially the early adherance to the German Baptist Brethren. The drive for religious freedom was not the least of the motivating factors for the immigration to America.
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The Studebaker Story In 1852 Henry and Clem Studebaker opened a blacksmith shop in South Bend, Indiana. By the Civil War the shop was supplying wagons to the U.S. Army. In 1868 four of the brothers established the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company. Despite setbacks, the Company grew to be the largest wagon factory in the world, delivering on its motto, "Always give more than you promise." As the 20th Century dawned, Studebaker began building both electric and gasoline powered automobiles. After supplying wagons for the Allies during World War I, Studebaker put all its resources into automotive manufacturing. From the 1920s until its closing in 1966, Studebaker Automotive was a leader in styling and engineering. Many of the famous designs that rolled off the South Bend assembly lines are now an important part of our country's automotive history. The Legacy Lives On Studebaker was the only company to span the time from settlers' wagons to high performance automobiles. The 114 years of Studebaker history is preserved and on exhibit at the Studebaker National Museum. This historic collection will give the visitor a unique insight into our country's transportation history. Come and view the Museum's large collection of wagons, carriages, cars and trucks from the Studebaker family's conestoga wagon to the last car made in South Bend.
Understanding Our Studebaker Homeland (Taken from "The Studebaker Family In America -- 1736-1986)" The following is a description of the Hagen-Solingen area of Germany leading up to the migration of our ancestors in 1736. This area, especially the city of Solingen, was known throughout Europe for its production of the finest of edged weapons and edged tools. Other areas famous for weapon-making were Toledo, Spain; Damascus, at the east end of the Mediterranian Sea; and Shefield, England. The blade making industry developed at Solingen in the Rhur Valley area over hundreds of years. Here, princes and kings came from all countries to purchase arms for their soldiers. The men who worked at this trade were known as blademakers or cutlers or messerschmidts. They had developed guilds or craft unions to protect this monopoly on their trade. Several of our Stutenbecker ancestors were members of this restricted guild. We list our ancestors as coming from the Palatinate, but it should be remembered that this term applied to areas or provinces scattered over central Germany and controlled by more than one King or Prince or Baron. Not all of these Palatinate land holdings were adjacent to each other. They were often divided, not only geographically, but politically and religiously. Those who survived the Thirty Years War (1618-1648) were hardy, thrifty citizens who were weary of the fighting, the slaughter, the cruelty, the struggle to survive from one year to the next. It is no wonder that they seized the opportunity to migrate to America. Last revised 14th May 2001