Erie J. Sauder | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1904-08-06)August 6, 1904[1] |
| Died | June 29, 1997(1997-06-29) (aged 92)[1] Archbold, Ohio |
| Education | eighth grade |
| Occupations | Inventor, cabinetmaker,furniture manufacturer |
| Spouses | Leona Short (m. 1927)Orlyss Short (m. 1976) |
| Children | Three[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]
Sauder was born in Archbold, Ohio,[2] to Daniel and Anne (Schrock) Sauder.[1] In 1927, he married Leona Short. He had only an eighth grade education[4] and was a Mennonitecabinet maker. Sauder worked at the Archbold Ladder Company in his home town before he started his own business in 1934.[2]
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]

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