Sequoia Chapter Studebaker Drivers Club

Home

Officers

Newsletter

Calendar

Membership

Publicity

Reference

Members & Cars

Timeline

Sponsors

SDC

The Wheelbarrow Johnny

By Fred K. Fox

The name for our chapter newsletter was drawn right from Studebaker history made in Northern California. In 1853 John Mohler Studebaker, one of the five founding brothers of the Studebaker Corporation, arrived in a village of Hangtown (now Placerville), California with a wagon train he had joined in South Bend, Indiana. A wagon built by John and his brothers was used as payment for the young man's passage across the country to the gold fields of California.

Upon arrival, with just 50 cents in his pocket, John was approached by the local blacksmith who needed a man familiar with wood working to build wheelbarrows for the miners. After some deliberation, he took the job and thus proceeded to build the first Studebaker crafted "vehicles" west of the Rockies. After five years in California, John got the urge to return to South Bend and help his brothers in the wagon making business. With $8000 in California gold, he returned to South Bend in 1858 to invest all his earnings in the fledgling H & C Studebaker Company.

In 1912, when the name Studebaker was nationally known, John returned to Placerville for an official homecoming. As he stepped down from his car he was welcomed by a group of old friends, some of who shouted out "Welcome home Wheelbarrow Johnny." A small book, To Old Hangtown or Bust, written by Wells Drury records almost every moment of this great man's pilgrimage to a land he once knew so well. In honor of John Mohler Studebaker for his part in making California history, the Sequoia Chapter's newsletter has taken on the nickname given him by his comrades many years ago. One of John Mohler Studebaker wheelbarrows is on display in Placerville. More about John M. Studebaker can be found at the Sierra Nevada Virtual Museum.

Each issue of the newsletter contains upcoming events, Studebakers for sale, notes from the Chapter President, and other items of local interest. There is also a page of Tech Tips from the Wheelbarrow Johnny on this website.

If you would like to receive the newsletter via e-mail, send a message to Diane Glew at studebakerix.netcom.com and put Subscribe in the subject line.

newsletter.html last updated 12 August 2008. Please report problems with this page to the Webmaster.