Erie J. Sauder

Erie J. Sauder
Born(1904-08-06)August 6, 1904[1]
Archbold, Ohio[1]
DiedJune 29, 1997(1997-06-29) (aged 92)[1]
Archbold, Ohio
Educationeighth grade
Occupation(s)Inventor, cabinetmaker,
furniture manufacturer
Spouses
Leona Short
​
(m. 1927)​
[citation needed]
Orlyss Short
​
(m. 1976)​
[citation needed]
ChildrenThree[1]
Parent(s)Daniel and Anne (Schrock) Sauder[1]

Erie J. Sauder (August 6, 1904 – June 29, 1997) was an American inventor and furniture-maker. He invented a knock-down table in 1951[2][3] and founded a company that produced ready-to-assemble furniture—one of the largest in the United States at the time of his death.[4]

Early life

Sauder was born in Archbold, Ohio,[2] to Daniel and Anne (Schrock) Sauder.[1] In 1927, he married Leona Short.[citation needed] He had only an eighth grade education[4] and was a Mennonite cabinet maker. Sauder worked at the Archbold Ladder Company[citation needed] in his home town before he started his own business in 1934.[2]

Manufacturing companies

The Sauder Woodworking Company initially manufactured church pews, tables and other items.[2] In 1954, he formed the Sauder Manufacturing Company[2] and later diversification included the Archbold Container company.[4] The Sauder Woodworking Company manufactured ready-to-assemble furniture, while Sauder Manufacturing handled church furniture, and the Archbold Container company dealt in materials for packaging.[2] With over 3,200 employees, at the time of his death, the Sauder companies constituted one of the largest companies producing ready-to-assemble furniture in the United States.[4]

In 1975 Sauder retired, but the businesses continued to be run by family.[2]

Sauder Village

Sauder Village

After retiring, Sauder started Sauder Village which depicts life in nineteenth-century Ohio.[2][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Erie J. Sauder". Sauder Woodworking Co. Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Erie J. Sauder". Ohio History Central. 2007. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "About Sauder". Sauder Woodworking Co. Archived from the original on 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
  4. ^ a b c d "Notable death". The Manhattan Mercury. Manhattan, Kansas: Associated Press. July 2, 1997. p. 15. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Sauder Woodworking Company - 2012 Company Fact Sheet". Sauder Woodworking Co. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-05-25.