(Thanks to Carolyn Craine for her biographical sketch on Clarence’s life – much of the information written here was submitted to me by her.)
Clarence recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Although weak in body, he still has a vibrant desire to live life to the fullest. He was born August 20, 1909 in
In his childhood, he attended a one-room school, which never closed because of weather. He later walked three miles each day to attend
He met his wife to be (Clara Maye Walters) while attending an old-time medicine show in
It was during the depression years that they purchased a home, which consisted of a house and a barn on an acre of ground near Roselm, for $200. Clarence recalls that times were very hard; however, he also noted that it was a time of joy in their lives when their first daughter, Carolyn, was born.
1n 1933, the young family moved to Van Wert County to what was known at that time as the Heath Farm. Clarence recalls farming the 83 acres with two workhorses named Mabel and Daisy. He went on to explain that all the cooking and baking had to be done on a cook stove fueled by coal and wood. Laundry in those days was done on a washboard. There was no electricity, no refrigeration, and no inside running water or bathroom. The house was heated in cold weather with a baseburner stove. It was only a couple years after they moved into their new home that their first son Charles was born.
Clarence and Clara May gave their hearts to the Lord in 1938 and because of the new life they found in Christ; they dedicated their lives to His service. Giving thanks before meals and having daily Bible reading and family prayer time became the custom in the Sanderson household. Clarence later served as an interim pastor at the
According to Clarence’s oldest daughter Carolyn (Sanderson) Craine, the family continued to multiply and each child born was given a name beginning with a C. Carol Ann was born in 1939, a son Carl arrived in 1941; a daughter Cleona in 1943; son Clayton in 1945 and Craig in 1948. All of the children were born at home, except the last two boys who were born at the old Van Wert County Hospital located on Central Street.
Not only did Clarence farm his land, but he and his wife also tended a large vegetable garden and raised animals that could provide meat, milk or eggs. And, although a huckster (a traveling store of sorts) would stop by each Monday, there was little need to purchase grocery items from him because many vegetables, peaches, etc. that the Sandersons had grown had already be canned or preserved. Eggs were plentiful on the farm and the cows provided milk while the other animals provided meat. The Sandersons made use of their livestock by curing hams and bacon from the pigs. Beef was either canned or taken to the locker in Middle Point for processing. Since there was no refrigeration in the home, frozen packages of meat were brought home from the locker periodically, wrapped in newspaper and placed beneath a tub under the shade tree.
The Sandersons were accustomed to participating in thrashing rings where farmers joined together to bring in the harvest. Clarence’s daughter Carolyn recalls that when the harvesting was completed, there was a “settling up” gathering where everyone was welcome to eat the homemade ice cream that had been prepared for the occasion.
Clarence explained that at his farm, children were responsible for pumping water into the tank for the cows. Each child was supposed to pump 100 strokes before it was someone else’s turn. “I don’t think some of the kids could count too well as they would count to 20, then jump to 40 strokes,” he noted.
Hay making time during those days were always very warm, busy days. The hay loader would be hitched behind a wagon that was pulled by horses. Three people would then work from on the wagon. Processing field corn was also a greater challenge in those days because the corn had to be husked by hand. Clarence’s children helped in ways they could and there were times they rode on the wagon and times were they got to ride the horses pulling the wagon.
During World War 2 and like other families, the Sandersons had an A, B, or C stamp book for gas rationing and a sign in their car stating “Is This Trip Necessary?” Staple items like sugar and coffee were also rationed and Clarence’s children recalled that they even had to return an old toothpaste tube to buy a new one. However, this wasn’t a real problem for the Sanderson family, because mom and dad had the children substitute baking soda or salt for brushing their teeth when there was no toothpaste on hand.
In 1943, Clarence bought an 87-acre farm in
Whenever anyone asks Clarence about life as a farmer, he acknowledges how his wife Clara Maye worked along side him. “She too worked very hard,” he explains, adding that there were seven children to care for besides taking meals to the field, helping with milking cows, caring for chickens, etc. On Mondays, she would fix a simple meal of beans and cornbread because that was her big “wash day.” On Tuesdays, clothes would be dampened, rolled and ironed. Saturdays were house cleaning days and “Mom,” as Clarence fondly calls her, would see that the kids all had their baths that evening and would have their white shoes polished and their Sunday clothes laid out for the next day’s church services.
It was in 1958, that the Sandersons sold their farm in
Besides farming, Clarence served on the Hoaglin-Jackson School Board and drove a school bus. He also worked at Continental Can Company and at Kennedy Manufacturing in Van Wert, at Fruehauf in Delphos, at Grisley in Paulding, and at Addison Products in
Over the years, Clarence Sanderson has been an inspiration to many. His life has exemplified the strength and character of a hardworking man, who loves his God, his family, and his country.
“Retirement” has never really been a part of his life, in that, at the age of 89, he undertook and accomplished the task of painting his barn by himself. He even continued farming his land until age 92. It was not until after he had fallen off a ladder at age 93 that he moved to town to live nearer to one of his daughters. In more recent years, Clarence has resided at the assisted living facility at
Clarence Sanderson recently turned 100 years old. In August, his family, neighbors, and friends gathered for an open house at
Clarence has outlived two of his sons – Carl who passed away in 1986, and Charles who died in 2008.
