Joseph M. Studebaker, who follows farming in Elizabeth township, was born in Bethel township, Miami county, June 28, 1849. His parents were Jacob S. and Mary (Miller) Studebaker, and the father of our subject was born upon the old Studebaker homestead in Miami county. In 1850 he settled upon the farm where his son Joseph now lives, then a partially improved tract, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred May 21st of the same year, when he was thirty-six years of age. He left three children, the eldest being Elizabeth, who died in March, 1885. Phebe, the second daughter, became the wife of Oliver Yount, and is now the wife of William Teter, of Dayton. The mother died of typhoid fever February 13, 1853, and then the children were left orphans. They went to live with relatives and Joseph M. Studebaker, then three years of age, became a member of the family of his mother's uncle, George Warner, of Montgomery county. It proved an excellent home for him, and to habits of industry, economy and honesty he was trained. He attended the public schools of the neighborhood until sixteen years of age and then returned to Miami county, where he worked by the month for two seasons. He then rented land, in connection with his uncle Isaac, and in his farming operations met with good success.

On the 16th of January, 1873, Mr. Studebaker married Miss Mary A. Clyne, a daughter of Isaac Clyne, who was born on the farm where the father now lives. The property adjoins the farm which is now their home. The young couple began their domestic life here in a log cabin, which had been erected by Isaac Sheets. With characteristic energy Mr. Studebaker began improvement of the place. The windows had all been broken out of the house, but he placed it in a habitable condition and it is still standing, although it has been re-roofed. In 1866 he erected his present home, which is a pleasant and commodious residence, built of brick and containing eleven rooms. There are also good outbuildings and other desirable improvements, including well-tilled fields, which add to the value and attractiveness of the home and indicate the careful supervision of the owner. In 1873 he had about one hundred acres under cultivation, the remainder being timber and waste land. The latter he has reclaimed by under drainage, having laid nearly a mile of tiling. He purchased his sister's interest in the farm and has added to it a tract of thirty-five acres. He successfully carries on general farming, wheat being his principal crop. In 1873 he owned a one-third interest in the place and has received about twenty-two hundred dollars as his income from the farm. He went in debt nine hundred dollars in order to purchase the interest of one of the sisters and met this by annual payments of one hundred and fifty dollars per year. Ten years later he purchased his other sister is interest, thus assuming an indebtedness of fifteen hundred dollars. He has devoted his attention exclusively to farming and has attained a high degree of success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Studebaker have been born two children, Alvah C. and Viola L. The daughter has been a student of the Troy high school and the son pursued a commercial course in Springfield, Ohio. He now operates the Isaac Clyne farm. He is married and has one child, Gladys Marie. The mother is a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Studebaker has given his political support to the Republican party and has served as school director and supervisor, but has not sought or desired political preferment. His life has been quietly passed in the faithful performance of his duties and he is known as one of the representative farmers of his neighborhood.