The Industries of South Bend and Mishawaka

The Studebaker Manufacturing Company

The father of the Studebaker brothers, John Studebaker, was the son of Peter Studebaker, Jr.  John lived in Adams County near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where in 1830 he bought property in which he built a brick house and a shop where he pursued his trade as a blacksmith and wagon maker.  He had a reputation as a conscientious and skillful workman.  John decided, along with many other residents, to move west and grow up with the country.  He built a covered wagon of the Conestoga pattern, the bed or box of which had an enormous carrying capacity.  The top bows bent forward and backward respectively, and were covered with waterproof duck cloth.  Four strong horses drew the Conestoga wagon that contained the family, consisting of the father, John, his wife, Rebecca Mohler, whom he had married in 1820, and six children, two of whom were the boys, Henry and Clem.  They landed in Ashland, Ohio where John built another home and opened another blacksmith shop.  Another four children were born while in Ashland, making the family equally split, five boys and five girls. 

When the older boys became adults, their father urged them to become independent and make a life of their own.  Around 1850, Henry and Clem left Ashland and traveled overland to South Bend, where Clem taught school and worked in a blacksmith shop for 50 cents a day.[20]  John M. (J.M.) soon followed his brothers to South Bend, and Peter E. became a merchant in Goshen, Indiana.  Jacob was the last brother to immigrate to South Bend.  The Studebaker sons soon brought their parents and sisters to South Bend, where John, their father, died in 1877 and their mother in 1887.[21] 

Henry, aged 26, and Clem, aged 21, established the company of H & C Studebaker, blacksmiths and wagon builders, with $68 and two forges.  J.M., aged 19, had joined them with the intention of become a partner in their company, but the discovery of gold in California called J.M.  He left his brothers and South Bend for Eldorado in quest of wealth.  Henry and Clem built J.M. a sturdy covered wagon for his trip, which J.M. traded to a wagon train for his passage and board.  The Studebaker wagon made the journey in good condition and arrived in California five months later in August 1853. 

Henry and Clem needed financial capital and begged J.M. to come home and join them in business.  After J.M. had been in California for five years, he decided to travel back home to South Bend.  J.M. had done well with his business in California and came home with $8,000 in gold nuggets.  He used this money to buy out his brother Henry, who wanted out of the Studebaker business so that he could farm.  J.M.’s money established and assured the future of the firm of H & C Studebaker. 

J.M. was in charge of the manufacturing department of the Studebaker Company for 45 years, during which time he personally supervised the building of nearly all vehicles that left the factory.  He built into these products his sturdy, honest character, and thereby established a worldwide confidence in Studebaker vehicles.[22]  Upon the death of his brother Clem, J.M. succeeded to the presidency of the company.  J.M. was the last of the Studebaker brothers to die on March 16, 1917 in South Bend, at the age of 83.   

Peter, the fourth brother, who had been a merchant in Goshen, Indiana, joined the Studebaker company and worked with the management of the company.  He was put in charge of sales, and opened branch houses (dealerships) as sales expanded.  The first was in 1870 at St. Joseph, Missouri, to handle the business of the pioneers whose wagon trains and expeditions to the far West were crossing the country in large numbers.  Peter died in 1897 at the age of 61.  He was the Vice President of the Studebaker company at his death. 

Jacob joined the company as a salesman, and served in important offices until his death at the age of 43.  The Studebaker Automobile Company closed its automotive plant here in South Bend in December 1963.   

The Oliver Chilled Plow Works

James Oliver was a Scottish immigrant who arrived in the United States in 1835 at the age of 12.  In 1855, Mr. Oliver formed a partnership with a Mr. Lamb and Mr. Fox in the foundry business.  The foundry was named the South Bend Iron Works, probably because of Mr. Oliver’s association with the St. Joseph Iron Works in Mishawaka.  The foundry in South Bend was located on Mill Street, on the West Race (now the Century Center parking lot).  The company faced many hardships and mishaps during its history.  The waterpower being, at one time, washed away, while afterwards on December 24, 1859, the works were totally destroyed by fire.  James Oliver rebuilt the factory and began to experiment with the manufacture of chilled plows, and thus laid the foundations of his great fame and fortune. 

On July 22, 1868, Mr. Oliver, in connection with some of his enterprising friends, incorporated the South Bend Iron Works-afterwards becoming the famous Oliver Chilled Plow Works.  The stock of the company then fell into the hands of James and his son, Joseph D. Oliver (J.D.), who both became the sole active owners and manufacturers of the mammoth establishment.  When the small foundry on the West Race became too small for the immense business that began to flow into the works, Mr. Oliver purchased a large tract of land in the southwestern part of South Bend (a block of land at the northwestern corner of Sample and Chapin Streets in South Bend).  By 1911 the Oliver Chilled Plow Works, in its new location, was producing 800,000 plows a year.  And by 1920 the Oliver Chilled Plow had been sold as far away as Russia and Japan. more... 

The Birdsell Manufacturing Company

The Birdsell Clover Huller was invented and perfected by John Comly Birdsell, while he was a farmer in Monroe County, New York.[23]  He was granted a patent for this invention in 1855.  In 1864 Mr. Birdsell’s factory in New York burned to the ground.  He then moved west and settled in South Bend.  Mr. Birdsell occupied a building on the West Race of the St. Joseph River and his patents and business grew rapidly.  Mr. Birdsell and his sons, Varnum, Joseph, Byron and John Comley, incorporated the company.  In 1870, a five-story brick factory was constructed and at the time was the largest factory building in South Bend. 

In 1887 the Birdsell company began to manufacture farm wagons.  In a short amount of time, the Birdsell wagon sold as well as the Birdsell Clover Huller.  The Birdsell Clover Huller was used in every civilized nation of the world.  Dealerships were set up to sell the clover huller in Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Russia and other countries. 

The Singer Sewing Machine Company

The South Bend Singer plant was established in 1868.  The cabinet in which the sewing machine sets is what was made here in South Bend.  The cabinets were built here in South Bend, shipped to Elizabeth, New Jersey, Glasgow, Scotland, Hamburg, or Berlin, Germany.  The South Bend plant in 1868 produced 1,000 cabinets a week.[24]  Twenty years later, the plant was producing 10,000 sets per day, while over 2,000 people were employed in various departments[25]  

The South Bend plant was originally located on East Madison and North Emrick Streets (now East Madison and Niles Avenue) on the East Race.  The plant increased in size so much that in a few years it became necessary to move.  Singer Sewing Machine Company then relocated to Olive and Western Avenue in South Bend (one factory building remains—the Mary Crest Building on Western Avenue).  By 1901 the company occupied a vast lot that allowed for increased production.  However, after the Singer company used all the walnut trees in the area surrounding South Bend they closed their plant and operations were halted.  

South Bend Toy Works

The South Bend Toy Manufacturing Company was incorporated December 22, 1882, after being established in 1874.[26]  Frederick Badet, a grocery clerk, and John Teel, a woodworker, originally started the company.  The company began manufacturing croquet sets and other wooden toys.  Croquet was, at the time, the only acceptable game for women and girls to play.  Later, children’s wagons and doll carriages were built.  In 1888 the company built occupied a factory building on High Street near Ohio and Sample Streets.  The company employed about 225 people in the early 1900s.  In 1973 the company moved to a new building on Sample Street between Kentucky and Lake Streets.[27]  Unfortunately, due to increase foreign and domestic competition, South Bend Toy Works went out of business in 1981, however, Milton Bradley had bought the company and finally closed in 1985.  

South Bend Watch Company

The South Bend Watch Company had its beginning as the Columbus Watch Company of Columbus, Ohio.  Columbus Watch Company was acquired by the South Bend Watch Company and incorporated on July 24, 1902.  The next year, on March 23, 1903, South Bend Watch Company President Clement Studebaker pressed the ivory tipped button to set in motion the machinery of the new factory.  

Through the first two decades of the twentieth century the company grew and enjoyed many prosperous years.  During its peak years of production the company produced 60,000 watches annually and employed nearly 600 employees.  Ambitious nationwide advertising was greatly responsible for this early prosperity.  Full-page ads showing the South Bend watch running in a block of ice were particularly effective.  Later this was discarded and watch illustrations were shown with a purple ribbon across the watch face.  Numerous styles and models were available with a price range from $16.00 to $125.00.  All watches carried a “insured for a lifetime guarantee.”  In fact, there are thousands of South Bend watches still running today.  

In the 1920s the company offered a Studebaker watch on a mail order basis.  The Studebaker watches were identical to the South Bend line and were made on the same production line.  The Studebaker watch ads of this era did not indicate any connection between the two watches, but instead gave the impression of a separate company.  The naming of the watch, however, was an obvious attempt to capitalize on the good name of the famous brothers of Studebaker automobile fame.  Most ads carried the following line:

“Directed by members of the Studebaker family—known for three-quarters of a century for fair dealing.”

The use of the Studebaker name was completely justifiable on the grounds that the Studebaker family owned controlling stock in the company.  The Studebaker watches were sold on a credit basis and could be purchased with a down payment of only one dollar.  With the onset of the Depression, the company found itself with many delinquent accounts and the banks unwilling to cooperate in those unstable times.  This and the fact the company never switched to production of men’s wristwatches was responsible for the eventual shutdown.  On Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday, November 27, 1929, the nearly 300 employees of the company were notified the plant would be closed until January 1, 1930.  The company never reopened.  

After the closing, the machinery was eventually sold and liquidation completed in 1933 with creditors being paid off fifty-cents on the dollar.  In later years, the old factory building at 1720 Mishawaka Avenue was used for a warehouse, a soft drink bottling plant, an Army reserve center and various other businesses.  On July 8, 1957, a fire started in the old factory and destroyed the last evidence of a once world famous factory.  

In 1984, Ray Gard, a reporter for the South Bend Tribune, wrote an article from an interview of a South Bend Watch Company employee, Walter Schott.  This is an excerpt from that story which gives an interesting insight into this company:  

   “Advancement came slow, “ explains Schott, talking about the watch company.  “Clement Studebaker was boss.  A good man, Clement.  But he never made a wristwatch.  And that was his downfall.”
   At that time, says Schott, the South Bend Watch Co. employed 500, and until its end, in 1928, never paid any of its workers more than $1 an hour.  Trade unionism was in its infancy.
   “Sometimes I couldn’t make carfare and walked,” he said.  “Cheez, three cents an hour wasn’t much.  Later I got up to five cents an hour.”
   That figures out to 50 cents a day.  Fifty cents a day wouldn’t buy a McDonald’s hamburger now.  Nobody though of hospital insurance or time and a half, least of all double-time.
   “It was a good place to work,” insists Schott, then a lad of 17.  “I had two brothers, Alton, who made all of the watch screws, and Herb, who put the jewels in the watch.  Herb was clever at putting in jewels.  We all worked together.”
   “I was in the boiler room and nickel plating works,” says Schott.  “It wasn’t that hard.  But I remember a girl had to quit her job in the dial house.  She got sick from radiation.  But no one complained.” 
   Once Schott became ill after breathing caustic burning acid.  After a self-imposed layoff, he returned, only to find his wages had been cut back 10 cents an hour and he new job was in the stem-winding room.
    “It was a terrible job,” he says.  “All those little springs.  Everything was so fine and sensitive.  A worker could go blind.”
    “We made beautiful watches,” exclaims Schott.  “Some with aluminum dials that kept excellent time.  We made railroad timepieces that sold for $42 without the gold fob.  The gold fob was $7 more.”
    [After the factory closed] Schott worked for South Bend Toy Company and the Bendix Corporation.[28]  

The Staley Manufacturing Company

Alexander C. Staley came to South Bend with the vision to built a factory that produced woolen underwear.  The company was organized on July 24, 1888.[29]  The company was first located on the East Race of St. Joseph River and began to expand.  In 1907, the A.C. Staley company was reorganized and incorporated as the Stephenson Underwear Mills.  

The Abstract & Title Corp.

The firm was founded in May of 1856 by Andrew Anderson an attorney.  The company was under the name of Anderson Abstract Co., in order to acquire a complete set of abstract records.  Anderson recorded all St. Joseph County title history from the time of government entry.  This set of records has been posted daily and remains consistently current.  Willis A. Bugbee purchased the business in 1888 upon Andersons' retirement.  Shortly afterwards, Harry G. Schock and W. Hale Jackson became partners in the expanding firm.  In 1929 the company became part of the Abstract and Title Corp.  Upon Mr. Jackson's death in 1957, James E. Peterson Sr., was elected President.  Currently processes all types of title evidence in St. Joseph County and is regarded as the oldest continuously operated business in the county.

Meyer's Hardware, Inc. (G.E. Meyer & Son, Inc.)

Founded by Godfrey E. Meyer (1823-1901) a native of Bavaria, Germany, trained as a metal-worker who emigrated to the United States in 1853, in partnership with Gottfried Poehlman.  Specializing in roofing craftsmanship with contracts on many public buildings including the Oliver Opera House, Elkhart Opera House and the Auditorium.

In 1893 Mr. Poehlman retired and his interest purchased by John V. Meyer (1856-1920) under whose proprietorship the firm expanded into an enlarged hardware and sheet metal shop location at 107 W. Jefferson Street.

In 1930 John Meyer Dunnuck, great-grandson of the founder, entered the firm and engaged it into new fields as the first distributor in South Bend of Scott's Lawn Products and Delta and Skil power tools.  In 1957 the firm joined the True Value cooperative buying group.

The South Bend Tribune

Founded as a weekly newspaper March 9, 1872 by Alfred B. Miller and Elmer Crockett.  Became a daily, May 28, 1873.  Started publication of Sunday paper, April 30, 1922.  Became South Bend's only newspaper December 28, 1938.  

The Tribune has an international reputation for leadership in improved methods of production.  Among many "firsts," the Tribune was the first newspaper in the world to install a fully automatic computer-directed typesetting system.  It pioneered the use of high-speed etching machines and was among the first to use photocomposition for producing display advertising.  The Tribune was the initial user of the Letterflex plastic plate for direct printing late in 1968. 

C. E. Lee Company, Inc.

In 1872, when South Bend had a population of 8,000, Amos W. Lee founded what is now known as C.E. Lee Company.  A.W. Lee started as a painting and decorating contractor and soon established a retail store in the 200 block of South Michigan Street.  Clarence E. Lee joined his father in 1890, and in 1914 the business was moved to 225 S. Main Street.  The third generation of Lee's, Edward J. and William E. joined their father in business during the early 1930's; the fourth generation, William J. and Robert R., sons of Edward Lee, entered the business in the early 1960's. 

What began as a painting and decorating business over a century ago has developed into Indiana's largest wholesale distributor of paint sundries and wallcoverings.

The O'Brien Corporation

The O'Brien Corporation was founded in South Bend in 1875 in a small shop on what now is Lincolnway West.  The founder was Patrick O'Brien, who had developed a revolutionary new quick-drying primer for the carriages and wagons of that era.  Patrick had once worked for the Studebaker Brother's wagon company.

O'Brien selected the site of the company's facilities on West Washington Avenue after fire destroyed the original O'Brien Electric Priming Company's plant.  Between 1882-85, several buildings were constructed on South Bend's west side and in 1893, the corporate name was changed to the O'Brien Varnish Company, which remained until 1948 when the company assumed the name of Fuller-O'Brien.  Uniroyal Adhesives and Sealants bought out part of the Fuller-O'Brien company and still operates on West Washington Avenue in South Bend.   

Other companies that called South Bend and Mishawaka home  

There are many other companies that were located in South Bend and Mishawaka, some of these are:

Matthews Steam Boiler Works

South Bend Brick Company

The Northern Brass & Aluminum Foundry

McErlain & Elbel Cigar Box Manufacturers

South Bend Dowel Works

Sibley Drill Manufacturers

South Bend Bait Company

Sibley Machine Tool Company

Perfection Mattress Company

Cassady Rotary Engine Company

August Soderberg Snuff Factory

Malleable Steel Range Manufacturing Company

South Bend Tent and Awning Company

South Bend Spring Wagon & Carriage Company

Milburn Automobile Manufacturing Company

Dodge Manufacturing Company

Bendix Corporation/Allied Signal/Honeywell

Perkins Windmill

Wilson Brothers Shirt Factory

Winkler Brothers’ Manufacturing Company 

More companies will be added periodically

Politics and Government 

South Bend was organized as a town in 1835 (it had been the county seat since 1831).  The city of South Bend was incorporated in 1865.  William G. George was elected the first mayor on June 5, 1865.  South Bend had three wards originally, then, in 1866, the small town of Lowell, located along the East Race of the St. Joseph River, was annexed and became the fourth ward.  

Peter Johnson built the first courthouse in 1832.  The second courthouse that stands now at the corner of Washington and Lafayette Streets use to be located on the southwest corner of Washington and Main and moved to it present location.  This courthouse was built in 1854 and occupied in 1855.  It was remodeled in 1870 (and again in 1999).  The present courthouse was completed in 1898 and cost $240,000.[31]  

In 1902 the city of South Bend adopted a special charter at the request of the state legislature.  The elective offices that were established included:  mayor, city judge, city clerk, once councilman for each ward, and three at large.  The position of city treasurer was abolished; its duties were taken over by the county treasurer.  Individual departments were created, with the mayor authorized to make all appointments. 

Mayors of South Bend 

William G. George R 1865-1868

Dr. Louis Humphreys R 1868-1872

William Miller R 1872-1876

A.N. Thomas R 1876-1878

Lucius G. Tong R 1878-1880

Dr. Levi J. Ham D 1880-1884

George W. Loughman R 1884-1888

William H. Longley D 1888-1892

David R. Leeper D 1892-1894

D.B.J. Schafer R 1894-1898

Schuyler Colfax, Jr. R 1898-1902

Edward J. Fogarty D 1902-1910

Charles L. Goetz D 1910-1914

Fred W. Keller (Independent) 1914-1918

Dr. Franklin R. Carson R 1918-1922

Eli F. Seebirt R 1922-1926

Chester R. Montgomery D 1926-1930

William Riley Hinkle D 1930-1935

George W. Freyermuth R 1935-1938

Jesse I. Pavey D 1928-1945

F. Kenneth Dempsey D 1945-1947

George A. Schock D 1947-1952

John A. Scott R 1952-1956

Edward F. Voorde D 1956-1960

Frank J. Bruggner D 1960-1964

Lloyd M. Allen R 1964-1972

Jerry Miller D 1972-1976

Peter Nemeth D 1976-1980

Roger Parent D 1980-1988

Joseph Kernan D 1988-1996

Stephen J. Luecke D 1996-present  

Typically, South Bend has been represented by the two major parties.  However, during the 1930s Great Depression some of the more unusual political parties/movements received a fair amount of press here in South Bend.  There seems to have been a strong Communist party that gained support from Socialist and Socialist-Labor parties.  Another political party in South Bend was named the Farmer Labor party.  The Scientific Government party also found some supporters in the Michiana area.  

The Founding of Mishawaka (coming soon...)

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[20] Erskine, Albert Russel.  History of the Studebaker Corporation.  Studebaker.  South Bend, 1924.

[21] Ibid.

[22] Ibid.

[23] Howard, Timothy Edward.  A History of St. Joseph County Indiana: Volume 1.  Lewis Publishing.  Chicago, 1907.

[24] Ibid.

[25] Ibid.

[26] Ibid.

[27] Palmer, John.  Early South Bend Manufacturers and Their Influence on Ethnic Settlement Patterns.  Unpublished.

[28] Gard, Ray.  “Working Man’s Wages Once 3 Cents an Hour.”  South Bend Tribune, 2 September 1984.

[29] Howard, Timothy Edward.  A History of St. Joseph County Indiana: Volume 1.  Lewis Publishing.  Chicago, 1907.

[31] Ibid.