David Studebaker and Catharine Michaels

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Husband David Studebaker ^{1 2}

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           Born:  - Cumberland, PA
     Christened: 
           Died: 1840 2
         Buried: 

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         Father: Joseph Studebaker (Abt 1744-1815) 3
         Mother: 

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       Marriage:  - Worth Twp, Butler Co, PA

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Wife Catharine Michaels ^{2 4}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 1819 2
         Buried: 

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Children

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1 M Henry Studebaker ^{4 5}

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           Born: 1804 2
     Christened: 
           Died: Abt 1900
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Elizabeth [Unk] (      -      ) 6

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2 F Elizabeth Studebaker ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John Bennett (      -      ) 2

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3 F Mary Studebaker ^{7 8}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 2 Feb 1885 8 9
         Buried: 

         Spouse: James Book (1812-1868) 7 8

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4 F Susan Studebaker ²

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: John Bonner (      -      ) 2

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5 F Lydia Studebaker ^{2 10}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Jonathan Harland (      -      ) 2 10

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6 F [Unk] Studebaker ¹¹

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Adam Pisor (      -      ) 11

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7 M Joseph Studebaker ^{12 13}

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Christine Book (      -      ) 12 13

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General Notes: Husband - David Studebaker

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About the year 1790, a party of twelve persons, buoyant with life and exuberant health, left Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the neighborhood of Greensburg, on a hunting expedition, and for the purpose of exploring the extreme western part of the county (for Westmoreland at that time extended as far as Erie). When they arrived at Logan's Ferry, which was between Freeport and Pittsburgh, they were advised of the hostilities of the Indians against pale-faced invaders in the northern sections of the county, and great depredations which it was alleged they were committing, and they at once became terrified, and all of the party, with two exceptions, refused to proceed further. Of course the story was a canard, for at that time no white men had ventured into their midst, and at this particular epoch in their history they were quiet and disposed to be peaceable. David Studebaker and Abraham Schneider - for these were the two exceptions - came on and passed through where Butler now stands. It was almost dark when they arrived at what is known as the "old fair ground," about one mile west of town. There they built a fire, cooked some venison which they procured on the way, and after partaking of their frugal meal, they wrapped about them their blankets and laid down to sleep. The following morning they pushed on through the bewildering forests, until they finally reached the territory included within the bounds of this township. They had walked that day a distance of twenty miles, and when they reached the banks of Slippery Rock it was again almost night, and they found themselves completely exhausted from hunger and travel. They were not dissatisfied, however, with what their companions thought a perilous undertaking, but they concluded they had reached a country plentifully supplied with game, and were highly elated over their successful adventure. They could see wolves prowling around at not a great distance, and could hear the distant bark of others. As for bears and deer, the forests were alive with them. They began at once to make preparations for supper, simple as it might be, for their stock of provisions, very limited at first, was already about exhausted. Hardly had they kindled their fire, when a company of redskins came suddenly upon them. They had been out upon the chase, and were returning to their wigwam with their spoils. They expressed their surprise at seeing these pale-faced adventurers, by indescribable sounds. Dropping their game, which was deer dissected into quarters, they at once entered into conversation with the hunters, asking them various questions as to where they came from and what their business was. When they were informed by Schneider and Studebaker, that their mission was simply to see the country and to shoot the deer and bear, they became very social and friendly toward them, inviting them to go with them to their encampment, which was just one mile and a half north of what is now Mechanicsburg. They accepted the hospitality and repaired to their wigwams, where they met at least a dozen more of their race. It need scarcely be observed, that they, too, were greatly surprised to see white men, At first they imagined they were captives, but when it was explained by one who seemed to be a recognized leader, that the white men were hunters, and friendly to them, they seemed pleased, and shook hands with them. The squaws prepared them a supper, which consisted of baked corn-meal, venison and wild honey.
Soon after their supper was ended, the Indian who seemed to be the spokesman, took them to another wigwam near by, and pointed them to a place where they could retire to sleep. Schneider was fearful that something might befall them while they slept, but young Studebaker felt assured by their kindly disposition and treatment that all was right. Moreover, he knew something of the nature of the Indians, from his father who had been a captive for nine years.
David, his son, with his companion, Schneider, built a cabin (where George Armstrong would later live, on the spot which served as his garden) and spent all of their time from September to Christmas with the Indians, hunting and exploring the country. They then went back to Greensburg to meet their kindred, and relate to them their interesting encounters and adventures. Three years later, David Studebaker returned to the place, bringing with him a little sister to keep house. They at once sought out the cabin which he and his friend Schneider had erected, and there they took up their abode. David liked the country, and decided to make his future home here, but his little sister became very much dissatisfied with her position - lonely indeed it must have been - and was constantly in fear of the Indians, for the first stories related to her were about their treachery and cold-blooded murders. No wonder, then, in this mental condition, she pleaded to be taken to her home. Her brother cheerfully yielded to her request, and brought back with him an older sister. They squatted upon the land referred to, and proceeded at once to level the forests and cultivate the soil. Thirty years after his first visit to this part of the country, when he was fifty years of age, David [Joseph?] Studebaker came to his son David's place, and settled with him. Here he spent the remainder of his life. [HBC 1883, 354]

He was one of the first who entered the territory embraced in Worth Township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, with the object of making a permanent settlement. In the autumn of 1790 he came from Westmoreland County, and, after testing the friendship of the occupants of the Indian village on Slippery Rock, erected a cabin, spent the following three months in hunting and exploring the country in that vicinity, and then returned to home. Three years later he came again, bringing with him one of his sisters to keep house, took possession of the cabin and became a permanent settler. His father, Joseph, and family joined him later.

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General Notes: Wife - Catharine Michaels

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from Harlansburg, PA

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Notes: Marriage

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The first marriage which occurred within the bounds of Worth township, Butler County, Pennsylvania, was that of David Studebaker and Catharine Michaels.

1 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883), Pg 354.

2 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 610.

3 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883), Pg 354, 437.

4 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Waterman, Watkins & Co., 1883), Pg 355.

5 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 610, 1237.

6 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 1237.

7 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 610, 1286.

8 James A. McKee, 20th Century History of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and Representative Citizens (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1909), Pg 1266.

9 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 1287.

10 Charles A. Babcock, Venango County, Pennsylvania, Her Pioneers and People (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1919), Pg 957.

11 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 1300.

12 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 1286.

13 Aaron L. Hazen, 20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Co., 1908), Pg 637.