Thomas Henderson
Studebaker is one of the most prominent citizens of
Clayton County, being editor of the North Iowa Times,
of McGregor. As a politician he has taken an active part,
being greatly interested in the workings of the
Democratic party and has been a delegate to various
conventions of the same.
The birth of Mr. Studebaker occurred in Muscatine, Iowa,
September 20, 1854. In the spring of the same year his
father, Harmon W. Studebaker, who was a native of Adams
County, Pa., came to the west, making a location at
Muscatine. He is still living, being robust and stong,
though he has reached the advanced age of eighty-three
years and is now a resident of McGregor. The paternal
grandfather, jacob, was born in the Keystone State and
was the son of Wireman Studebaker, a native of Germany,
who emigrated to America, settling in Pennsylvania at an
early day. The wife of Harmon W. bore the maiden name of
Mary Gardner. Her birth occurred in Huntingdon County,
Pa., and she departed this life in 1891, at the age of
sixty-seven years. The Gardner family originated in
England and the ancestors of the American branch were
early settlers in the Keystone State, our subject's
maternal grandfather bearing the Christian name of
Joseph.
When only an infant Thomas Studebaker was brought by his
parents to Mallory Township, Clayton County, where his
father settled on a farm to which he devoted himself for
many years. The lad obtained a practical knowledge of
agricultural pursuits and received a fair education in
the district schools. At the age of twenty he entered
Western College, at Toledo, Iowa, and graduated from the
scientific course in 1882. He was ambitious, though poor,
and was determined to have a good education, even if
obliged to make his own way through college. For a time
after his graduation he worked on the homestead, after
which he taught school for two years in the county. In
1885 he entered the railway service on the Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railroad, continuing in the service until
1889, when he resigned.
It was in August, 1889, that Mr. Studebaker concluded to
adopt another line of business, and therefore purchased
the Times, which he has ably conducted since. It
has an actual circulation of over sixteen hundred copies,
and yearly numbers many more among its regular
subscribers. The office is thoroughly equipped with
modern type, presses, etc., and the genial proprietor is
ready at all times to do job printing and other work in
the best possible manner. The editorials which appear
from time to time in the paper are well and carefully
written, showing careful thought and good judgment.
June 29, 1882, Mr. Studebaker was married to Miss Mary
Dorcas. The lady is a native of Cedar County, Iowa, and
her father, John Dorcas, was one of the prominent early
settlers of that locality. To our subject and his
estimable wife two sons and a little daughter have been
born, as follows: Lulu, Claude and Ward. The parents are
faithful and consistent members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and have a pleasant home in the city.
Fraternally our subject belongs to Itasca Lodge No. 111,
I.O.O.F., Duncan Lodge 136, k.P., and Bellwood Camp No.
5, Modern Woodmen. In June, 1892, he was appointed by
Governor Boies as a delegate to the Nicaragua Canal
Convention, held in St. Louis, and the same year was a
delegate to a convention held at New Orleans. As
previously stated he is a stanch Democrat, having taken
active part in county, state and national politics. In
August, 1894, he was appointed Postmaster at McGregor,
which position he now holds.
~source: Portrait and Biographical Record
of Dubuque, Jones and Clayton Counties; Chicago: Chapman
Pub. Co., 1894; pg 493-494
~transcribed by Sharyl Ferrall
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