HISTORY OF TIPPECANOE PLACE The exception was the “Urban Castles” for In 1884, Clem Studebaker, President of the extremely wealthy Barons of Industry. Studebaker Corporation ( Largest Wagon In addition, Clem felt this design style Manufacturer in the World) “begins to feel exhibited the true mood he was looking he ought to have a larger house and one to achieve in his “ masterpiece”; one of more nearly corresponding in its character “stability, security, and permanence.” with the position he had obtained in the affairs of the world.” The site of his mansion The home was nearing completion towards would be at the corner of West Washington the later part of 1888, and the next few and Taylor St, just west of Downtown months were dedicated to final landscape South Bend on 3 plus acres of land. The work and interior furnishing installation. house would be built on a bluff, which ran In February of 1889, the Studebaker family diagonally through 2.65 Acres of grounds, finally took possession of their new home. and the carriage house and conservatories would be dedicated to the additional acre in Tippecanoe Place has approximately forty the back. rooms, with twenty uniquely different fireplaces, and close to 24,000 Sq. Ft. of Throughout 1885, Clem trekked to living space on four floors. The interior of on multiple occasions to interview the home emphasizes high quality wood architects, study plans, research materials, work throughout with expert carving skills. and visit some of the grand estates in the The total cost of construction was estimated City. After much deliberation, Clem chose at $250,000, with an additional $100,000 , one of the best known dedicated to furnishings and art collection. architects in Chicago, to work with him on To put this actual cost into perspective, the “mapping out” all the details of the home. typical monthly rental for a good house in Cobb had recently designed the splendid South Bend was $12 in 1880. In October Mansion on Lakeshore Dr., of 1889, just eight months after final and other noteworthy Chicago landmarks construction, disaster struck as the house which still exist today; including, the was severely damaged by fire. The entire Historical Society Building ( now Excalibur top of the house was burned off, leaving Night Club), Chicago Varnish Building ( only the stone facing walls unharmed. now Harry Carey’s restaurant), and many Since the structure was thought to be buildings located on the grounds at the basically fireproof, vary little insurance was University of Chicago. Cobb’s work was carried by the Studebakers. Within a year, influenced by “Richardson Romanesque” the house was completely rebuilt at an design which was distinguishable with additional cost of close to $100,000. After its fortress like stone walls, complex roof its completion, the South Bend Times and line, low arches, rising towers, and gabled Tribune wrote “The house, in its proportions dormers. This style was extensively popular and appointments probably surpasses from 1870’s -1880’s in large commercial anything in Indiana. It is an embodiment of properties and grand public buildings and all that wealth and taste can suggest, and churches. However, due to its high cost modern skill and invention devise.” of material construction and labor, it was very rare to see this design in residences.

1 OCCUPANTS OF TIPPECANOE PLACE bridesmaids and best friends. Clem was 1889-1933: Studebaker Family involved in his family’s other lines of Master and Mistress: business serving as both President of the Clem Studebaker: Founder of the South Bend Watch Company and North Studebaker Wagon Corporation American Light and Power Company. Anna Milburn Studebaker: Wife of Clem He and his wife lived at “ Elm Court”, a Studebaker mansion on East Jefferson St. in South Bend which still stands today on the 1901: Clem Studebaker passes away grounds of the prestigious Trinity School at Greenlawn. 1916: Anna Milburn Studebaker passes away, and Tippecanoe Place is willed to son 1933: George Studebaker and his wife Ada George. Lantz declare Bankruptcy, and abandon Tippecanoe Place. The furnishings and Three Children: belongings of the estate are auctioned to George Studebaker pay off debt, and the mansion is put on the (Born 1865, Deceased 1939) market for sale. Aka Colonel George after he graduated from Chester Military Academy in 1884 1934-1941: During the Great Depression, He married Ada Lantz in 1885, and they no active sales market exists, so the resided permanently in Tippecanoe Place property remains “empty” for seven years. from 1889-1933. George worked as an 1941: Mr. E.M. Morris, a South Bend Executive of the Studebaker Corporation. businessman who founded First Bank & Trust and Associates Investment Co., Anne Studebaker purchases the property for $20,000 and (Born 1861, Deceased 1931) bequeaths the asset to the South Bend Married Charles Arthur Carlisle at Board of Education to be used as a School Tippecanoe Place in September 1891. for the Handicapped. Mr Carlisle was a purchasing agent and Director at Studebaker Corporation. In 1941-1946: World War II intervenes, and 1894 the couple built a three story Queen the property is commissioned and used by Ann Style residence on the SE Corner of the Red Cross Society. the original Studebaker Estate adjacent to Tippecanoe Place. Today the “Carlisle 1947- 1970: Occupied by the E.M Morris House”, has been renovated and turn into School for Crippled Children. the law offices of Anderson, Augostino & Keller. 1971-1974: Used as School Offices and Administration Clem Studebaker, Jr. (Born 1871, Deceased 1932) 1975-1979: Occupied by Southhold When Tippecanoe Place was under Restorations ( Local Historical Preservation construction, Clem was studying at Group -Forerunner to Northern Indian Northwestern University. In 1893, he Historical Society). married Alicia Rhawn, one of his sister’s

2 1980 – Present: The size of the Miami villages were Tippecanoe Place Restaurant typically in the thousands, which lent Continental Restaurant Systems, a division power to the office of the chief whose of Ralston Purina which includes 71 other duties included regulating the supply of restaurants, purchases Tippecanoe Place trade and negotiating peace or aspects of in 1979. Continental spends $2 Million warfare. At the dawn of the 19th century, restoring and converting the mansion into the first white man settled in the area by a restaurant. The successor in interest, the name of Alex Coquillard. He established Paragon Steakhouse, sells the property a permanent post on the St. Joseph River in 2001 to the Matteoni Family on a sale which became the center of trade among / leaseback transaction, and in 2008 the the Miami Indians. Since Alex served in the Matteoni Family acquires the restaurant American forces during the War of 1812, operation. he also negotiated as an American agent for Indian affairs in this region. Due to this interaction, Miami Chief Tippecanoe, THE NAME – TIPPECANOE PLACE became a friend and ally. Two theories exist, one pertains to the Indian History of the Region, and the At this same time, the US Government second pertains to Clem Studebaker’s began enacting a policy to move Native friendship with President Benjamin American tribes east of the Mississippi River Harrison. Both theories are actually very to west of the river, away from the white closely related. settlers who began inhabiting the territories. In the Indiana Territory, the US Government Indian History of the Region: negotiated treaties as early as 1804 with Before any white explorers set foot in Saux and Fox leaders to cede certain lands Northern Indiana, the St. Joseph Valley north of the Ohio River. Later the Treaty in the mid 1600’s was occupied by Miami of St. Mary’s ( often referred to as the Indians. The power of the Miami was Treaty with the Miami) was signed in 1818, in their large size villages, which were which ceded Miami reservation lands in strategically located at key portages (trail present day Central Indiana to the Indiana between two rivers) in order to enhance Territory. When the Native Americans of their trade abilities. Just above the “south northwestern Indiana relinquished their bend” of the St. Joseph River a transfer property under the Treaty of Tippecanoe in point allowed for a short 18 mile portage 1832, the destiny of white settlement for all from the River of the Miami ( original name of Indiana was complete. of St. Joseph River ) to the nearby Kankakee Although no references are available River. This juncture between these rivers to discover the following facts, various allowed continuous canoe travel from the historians believe the land purchase treaties watershed to the headwaters were made in small segments of Indian of the River which flowed into the tribes rather than with Indian nations Mississippi River. It was this “key” juncture as a whole. With this thought, “the Chief where the Miami’s settled, since it secured Tippecanoe council grounds on the bluff” a connection for traders, explorers, settlers might very well refer to the Indian treaties and other Native American who were administered by Coquillard with the travelling from the east via Lake Michigan. Miami’s. It is no small stretch to believe that

3 one of the agreements which took place on William Henry Harrison returned to the the ground of the Studebaker Estate, was battlefield with his running mate John Tyler the execution of a document which related to give speeches during his Presidential to the Treaty of Tippecanoe. campaign of 1840. Because of his fame as a frontier hero, and the enthusiasm Friendship with President Benjamin generated from the colorful campaign jingle Harrison: “Tippecanoe and Tyler too”, Harrison, In 1800, William Henry Harrison became the Whig candidate, won the election governor of the newly formed Indiana overwhelmingly from the incumbent Martin Territory, and was commissioned by the Van Buren. US to secure title to Native American lands to allow for American expansion of settlers William Henry Harrison’s grandson was which in turn would provide statehood for Benjamin Harrison, who entered into a Indiana. Harrison negotiated numerous life of politics as a Republican Senator land cession treaties with the Indians, from the State of Indiana. In 1888, the including the Treaty of Fort Wayne in 1809 Republican Party chose him as their which involved the sale of over 3 Million Presidential candidate to run against the acres of land. incumbent Grover Cleveland. In a narrow victory, Benjamin Harrison was elected Two Native Americans, Tenskwatawa and the 23rd President of the . his brother Tecumseh, were outraged by the Benjamin Harrison and Clem Studebaker Treaty of Ft. Wayne, and met with Harrison were very close friends, and Benjamin to demand a nullification of the treaty Harrison appointed Mr. Studebaker to his which Harrison rejected. Not to be deterred, inauguration committee and to the first Tecumseh began to travel widely, urging Pan American conference between the US and intimidating warriors throughout the and Latin American nations. In addition, territory to abandon the accommodating right after the election, President Harrison chiefs and join them in a settlement north ordered five new carriages from the of the Tippecanoe River near Lafayette, Studebaker Manufacturing Company, one of Indiana. In response to rising tensions which is still on display at the Studebaker and threat of war, an American force National Museum. commanded by William Henry Harrison, set out to launch a strike on the brothers It is rumored that due to this close headquarters. The Battle of Tippecanoe took relationship with President Benjamin place at the confluence of the Tippecanoe Harrison, Clem Studebaker named his regal and Wabash Rivers on November 7, South Bend home in honor of Harrison’s 1811, with the Americans victorious both grandfather William Henry Harrison, the tactically with the destruction of the village, hero of the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe. and strategically, since this battle sealed the fate of the Native Americans in Indiana.

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