| Erie J. Sauder | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1904-08-06)August 6, 1904 Archbold, Ohio |
| Died | June 29, 1997(1997-06-29) (aged 92) Archbold, Ohio |
| Education | eighth grade |
| Occupation(s) | Inventor, cabinetmaker, furniture manufacturer |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | Three |
| Parent(s) | Daniel and Anne (Schrock) Sauder |
Erie J. Sauder (August 6, 1904 – June 29, 1997) was an American inventor and furniture-maker. He invented a knock-down table in 1951 and founded a company that produced ready-to-assemble furniture—one of the largest in the United States at the time of his death.
Early life
Sauder was born in Archbold, Ohio, to Daniel and Anne (Schrock) Sauder. In 1927, he married Leona Short. He had only an eighth grade education and was a Mennonite cabinet maker. Sauder worked at the Archbold Ladder Company in his home town before he started his own business in 1934.
Manufacturing companies
The Sauder Woodworking Company initially manufactured church pews, tables and other items. In 1954, he formed the Sauder Manufacturing Company and later diversification included the Archbold Container company. 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. 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.
In 1975 Sauder retired, but the businesses continued to be run by family.
Sauder Village
After retiring, Sauder started Sauder Village which depicts life in nineteenth-century Ohio.
References
- ^ "Erie J. Sauder". Sauder Woodworking Co. Archived from the original on 2010-03-02. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
- ^ "Erie J. Sauder". Ohio History Central. 2007. Archived from the original on October 5, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- "About Sauder". Sauder Woodworking Co. Archived from the original on 2010-05-04. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
- ^ "Notable death". The Manhattan Mercury. Manhattan, Kansas: Associated Press. July 2, 1997. p. 15. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
- "Sauder Woodworking Company - 2012 Company Fact Sheet". Sauder Woodworking Co. Archived from the original on 2012-09-09. Retrieved 2010-05-25.
External links
Media related to Sauder ready-to-assemble furniture at Wikimedia Commons
