ONE LAST TIME

John Studebaker Returns To Pay "His Final Respects"

© Craig & Franklin MacDonald, Ph.D.

Most people have heard the story of John Studebaker who "made his pile" building wheelbarrows for the miners and invested his fortune in the family wagon business (that became a famous car manufacturer).

But few have heard how and why the millionaire returned to Placerville more than 100 years ago, to pay "his final respects" to the men who helped him get his start.

In April of 1912, 79-year-old "Wheelbarrow Johnny" (as his friends called him) made a sentimental journey from his Indiana home to Placerville. This time he left the East by ship, instead of wagon train. He came back to honor "his boys" and talk about old times at a gala party he threw in the Ohio House Hotel.

On April 16, he was driven in a Studebaker from Sacramento to the hotel where a boisterous group of grizzled old men greeted him near a banner that said, "We're Glad You Came Back."

A beaming Studebaker shook hands with each one--even greeting some by their first names--remembering when they were all young and full of hope.

"This may be the last time I have a chance to see you boys," he confided in them. "For over 50 years, I've wanted to greet you once more."

"I probably wouldn't have made my start if it had not been for my experience with you. I've always appreciated your friendship. Struggling together, we learned 'Life is what you get out of it' and 'What you get out of it is what you put into it.' We learned to work hard, treat everyone equally and deliver more than we promised."

The reunion "boys" made a rule that nobody could talk about anything less than half a Century as they dined on a special Sierra "Menu of Memories," which included Chili Gulch Rib Warmer, Sacramento River Salmon and Shirt-Tail Bend Peas.

Stephen Gage, one of the old miners who went on to represent Placerville in the State Legislature, told the attentive spectators of Studebaker's early guarantee that always made him a success.

"I had the honor of buying one of the first wheelbarrows he made. It was strong and worth every cent. It had his personal guarantee, which stood for 'sterling quality' then as it does now."

"Wheelbarrow Johnny" had not forgotten his friends and they had not forgotten him. Several brought things he had worked on (wheelbarrows and picks) to show him they remembered.

Earlier in the day, he was taken to his old shop on Main Street where the sincere gent shook hands with the workers and told them--"I never did better work in my life than in this shop!" (They presented him with the hammer he had once used.)

Throughout the day, they spun tales. These were surprising, particularly sparring with Boxing Champ Yankee Sullivan.

"The champ told me to hit him on the nose as hard as I could," Studebaker recalled with a chuckle. "I let out my fist with all my strength but never even touched his nose. However, he touched mine, sending me in a double somersault.... All I saw was stars."

They also shared a laugh over the naming of Strawberry Valley, which most said was because of the wild strawberries that grew there.

Some of the "boys" recalled that famed Stagewhip Hank Monk once told them a man named Barry "used to steal oats and barley from the teamsters' horses and put straw in place of grain, so we called him 'Straw Barry,' which stuck to the station."

Alex Murgotten reminded them about a poor minister who came to California on a ship "infested with gamblers." He had the nerve to tell them what he thought of their trade and he succeeded in taming the gaming activity.

A couple years later, the preacher ordered some low-priced furniture. The next day, three huge wagons loaded with fine carpets, mahogany tables and upholstered chairs arrived but he would not accept them.

"No mistake at all," said the store's proprietor, who had accompanied the drivers. "This is all for you. You showed yourself to be a true man when you spoke to those gamblers on shipboard. I was one of them! Your sermon made me quit gambling. So I saved my stake and became successful."

Studebaker recounted how his employer, Joe Hinds, came to the aid of an Asian being roughed up by a big rowdy in the middle of the night. Hinds, awakened by screams, ran out in his nightclothes and jumped the rowdy, then started beating him up.

"With that spontaneous act of protection, Asians from throughout the area became longtime customers."

Another chap related a fascinating incident about a group of women miners, who had their claim "jumped" on Log Cabin Ravine. "The women called a miners' meeting and decided to eject the claim-jumpers. They went over in a body, threw the men and their tools out and told them to 'git' and they 'got', reported Wells Drury, who documented much of the Studebaker dinner privately for its Reception Committee and guests.

Before the festive evening concluded, the jovial audience sang some of their favorite songs, including this stanza from "The Days of Old, The Days of Gold."

"I'd comrades then
Who loved me well,
A jovial and saucy crew.

There were some hard nuts
I must confess
But still they were brave and true.

Who'd never flinch
Whatever the pinch
Would never fret nor whine.

But like good old bucks
They stood the kicks
In the Days of Forty-Nine."

Next, the strains of "Auld Lang Syne" filtered through
the fading merriment as they said their final
goodbyes. Studebaker went back to Indiana, not to be seen in the
Sierra again but never forgotten.

(Postscript: One of the highlights of the annual El Dorado County Fair is the "International Studebaker Wheelbarrow Races," which take place over a chaotic obstacle course. You can also visit the El Dorado County Historical Museum, 104 Placerville Drive, Placerville--next to the fairgrounds--and see an original Studebaker wheelbarrow.)
 

 

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