Dr. John F. Studebaker, who established his medical practice here in 1908, built this large two-story house at 2018 8th Ave. N. in 1914. Dr. Studebaker and family occupied the home until he retired in 1942 and moved to California.

The house was then sold to Richard Hess, U.S. Gypsum plant manager here; then to Mr. and Mrs. Roy V. Murray in 1947. In 1948 the property was sold to Robert M. Kelley, Fort Dodge insurance man, and Mrs. Kelley who occupied it with their family until 1974 when it was purchased by R. Thomas Price, Fort Dodge attorney and Mrs. Price. The Prices now reside there.

Originally the house included living room, parlor or music room, dining room, library used by Dr. Studebaker for his medical books, large kitchen and bath on the first floor; four bedrooms, sleeping porch and bath on the second floor. The house has been remodeled and modernized at various times, the Kelleys adding a family room on the north side 15 years ago and a bedroom and bath on the second floor.

Grounds around the house were extensively landscaped with trees, shrubs, flowers, vegetable garden, small fruit orchard, grape arbor and raspberry bushes. An octagonal summer house and a tennis court were also on the grounds.

Dr. Studebaker was born in Pearl City, Ill., in 1874 and later moved to Summerfield, Kan. He graduated from MacPherson College and then attended the University of Illinois School of Medicine and took postgraduate work at Harvard School of Medicine. He had his first office in the newly completed First National Bank building here and engaged in general medical practice until 1916 when he began specializing in surgery.

He was a World War I veteran serving in the Army Medical Corps. After his discharge from service Dr. Studebaker returned to Fort Dodge and in 1922 joined with Dr. E. F. Beeh and Dr. A. A. Schultz in building the Physicians Clinic, a two-story structure at First Avenue North and Tenth Street, where they had offices for many years. Four additional floors—devoted to apartments—were added in 1928 and given the name Biltwell Apartments.

Dr. and Mrs. Studebaker had two children. Their son Dr. Leland F. Studebaker practiced medicine in California. He died in 1971 at age 63. The daughter, Miss Rowena Studebaker resides in Fort Dodge.