He was known for helping his brothers expand the business to St. Joseph, Missouri, Chicago and throughout the United States in the 1860s and 1870s.

Peter Everst Studebaker[1] was born on April 1, 1836, in Ashland, Ohio, to Rebecca and John C.

[4] Studebaker moved to South Bend, Indiana, in 1852 and worked as a clerk at a dry goods store.

[2][3] In 1856, Studebaker moved to Goshen, Indiana, to open a retail business with his brother-in-law Phillip Welch.

He was then placed in charge of sales and moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, to establish the first retail branch of the company in 1865.

In 1865 or 1866, Studebaker married Alice (née Woodbury) Mitchell of White Pigeon, Michigan.

In 1871 or 1872, Studebaker married Mary Alice (née Ewing) Gunthie of South Bend.