The Donald Eugene Saneholtz Family

Donald Eugene Saneholtz was born in this home on Road T, west of Liberty Center, in Henry County, on May 24, 1910. He married Leona Marie Barlow, born April 21, 1909, from the Liberty Center area in Henry County, on Oct. 16, 1927. After trying his luck as a Singer Sewing representative in Chicago, they came back to farm the Saneholtz and King farms, which they presently own.

Residence of Donald and Leona Saneholtz, brick home originally built in 1883 by Don's Grandfather, Henry M. King.

This King home was also the birthplace of his mother, Eva Mae King, born May 22, 1880 - died Oct. 18, 1967. Her parents were Henry M. King, born Oct. 10, 1849 - died Nov. 9, 1930 and Amelia E. Hetteshimier, born Aug. 14, 1851 - died Oct. 2, 1925. Henry and Amelia's framed marriage certificate, over 100 years old, holds a place of distinction on the living room wall in Don and Leona's home today.

Donald's father, Wm. Henry Saneholtz was born April 7, 1877, in a log cabin in what was Wayne Park west of Napoleon, and passed away May 7, 1969. His brother Raymond, born in 1906, married Lucy Prior; and sisters Irene (Mrs. Howard Bond), born in 1902, and Marjorie (Mrs. Donald) Fahringer, born in 1915, were all born in the brick home.

Donald and Leona raised six children: Wm. Eugene, born April 13, 1929; B. Burdette, born June 16, 1930; Melba Arlene (Patsy), born Oct. 30,

1931; Elnora Louise, born Aug. 31, 1935; Milton Duane, born Oct. 21, 1936; and Philip R., born April 2, 1947, all born in Liberty Township, except Phil, who was born in Napoleon Hospital.

They raised their family in the King brick home, which they recently refurbished in authentic decor. The engraved cornerstone shows the house was built in 1883 by Henry M. King, Don's grandfather. The stone for the foundation was hauled from Fremont, Ohio, by horse and springwagon. The home is automatically air-conditioned for summer and easier to heat in winter as the early builders used three walls of brick with an air space in between each row.

The first three children were like raising triplets as they always found plenty of mischief to get into. Bill and Burdette made hats out of cockleburs and had Patsy try them on. Needless to say she went around with mighty short hair that summer. One winter Leona did not get to leave the house from January to April as they were quarantined, due to scarlet fever.

No one seemed any worse off, for great times were had growing up, during the Depression and all, although it must have been very hard for Morn and Dad. Even to get us to bed earlier than we wanted to go, Grandpa (Wm.) Saneholtz would be down and let his upper teeth drop down and Burdette would scamper off - Pronto.

Dr. George from Liberty Center, was the family doctor. Besides delivering babies, he even pulled baby teeth, which we didn't think were ready yet. When Elnora was one year old and anxious to see out the window, she was accidently pushed through it by 4 year old Patsy, and nearly severed her jugular vein, but Dr. George came to the rescue and saved her life. In all the excitement he no more than had arrived back to town, but had to come back again, as Milton decided to make an early entrance on October 21, 1936.

Dr. George's visits must have made an indelible impression on little Billy as he is now an accomplished physician and anesthesiologist at Riverside Hospital in Columbus. He graduated from Ohio State University and holds a pharmacy degree, besides the medical degrees. He married Marzella Breining of Columbus and she is a registered nurse. They live in Dublin, 0., and have one child, Bruce Michael, born August 18, 1971.

Burdette married Eva Caroline Silveus and they are successful farmers in Liberty Township. He served in the Korean War as a member of the National Guard. They are active members in church, school, and community organizations, one of which is the Liberty Center Elevator Board, where Burdette is director and secretary. The oldest child, Beverly Jean, was born December 31, 1951, and is employed at Automatic Feed Co. in Napoleon as a billing accountant. Sharon was born January 4, 1955, and is a secretary at the Henry County Bank in Napoleon. Beverly was Track Queen her senior year at LCHS, and Sharon was Homecoming attendant her sophomore year at LCHS. And then came the surprise of their lives. Triplets arrived. Roger, Ronald, and Rita were born on March 12, 1962. The attending physician was Dr. Daniel Rigal, a former classmate of Burdette's. All the Saneholtz family are very proud of our three "R's." Susan Marie was born June 29, 1966. All the children attend the Liberty Center Schools.

400a] Donald Saneholtz Family. Standing, left to right: Bill, Milton, Philip; sitting: Patsy, Donald, Leona, Burdette, Elnora.

Melba Arlene, better known as Patsy, worked at Harper Supply Co. in Napoleon, as a secretary-bookkeeper prior to her marriage to Elmer Eugene Leatherman, November 1, 1951. They built a ranch style home on their farm in 1954 in Liberty Township, where they still reside. Elmer and Pat are active members in many groups, including church and farm organizations. Peggy Arlene was born March 2, 1953, and after graduating from LCHS in 1971 where she was an active member of many clubs, majorette and FFA Sweetheart, is now attending Bowling Green State University, majoring in elementary education. She will graduate in 1975. Barbara Ann, born October 23, 1954, graduated from LCHS in 1972. She was an honor student and active band member, serving as a majorette her junior and senior year.

Barbara is attending Ohio State University majoring in dental hygiene. Richard Alan (Dick) was born April 23, 1957, graduating from LCHS in 1975 and is working at Standard Metals Mfg. Co. in Malinta.

Elnora Louise worked at the Clerk of Courts office as a deputy for 10 years prior to her marriage to Gary H. Bechtol from Florida, Ohio, on April 8, 1967. The ceremony was held at Liberty Chapel E.U.B. Church, northwest of Liberty Center, and they were the last couple to be married there as a new church was to be under construction later in 1967. Gary is attending Northwest Technical College, studying drafting and design and is also a carpenter. He did the remodeling of the brick home. Their son, Timothy Kent, was born November 17, 1968, and will be in the first grade at Florida, Ohio, in the fall of 1975. Elnora is working at the Henry County Court House again and her family resides in Florida, Ohio.

Milton Duane was in the Army two years and is presently an interior designer for Johnson Brothers Furniture Store in Toledo, where he resides. He received his degree from the Ray- Vogue School of Design in Chicago, Illinois. Milt not only designed the plans for the renovation of his parents' home, but also did the interior of the Liberty Chapel Church, where all the family have been members.

Ron, Roger, Rita

Philip R. obtained his B.A. degree in higher education at Ohio State U., and his Master's degree at Miami University, where he met and married Linda Riddle, Hamilton, Ohio, at the Miami University Sesquicentennial Chapel on the Oxford, Ohio campus, June 26, 1971. Linda also holds a B.A. and Master's degree in elementary education. They both have had guidance training also. Phil and Linda are the parents of Amy Louise, born September 21, 1972, and Eric Todd, born May 25, 1974. They live in Milford, east of Cincinnati, Ohio, where Phil teaches.

All of Don and Leona's children graduated from the Liberty Center High School.

An amusing story about Wm. H. (Grandpa) Saneholtz happened when he was dining out in Columbus, Ohio, on the top floor of an elegant restaurant with his grandson Bill (named after him) and Marzella. His dinner came complete with wine, which he objected to. Marzella said it was OK as the Lord had wine at the Last Supper and he could too, but he still protested saying "But this isn't my last supper." He was 87 at the time, lived to age 92, still maintaining all his wit and charm and high ideals for living.

Submitted by Melba (Patsy - Mrs. Elmer) Leatherman