Elisha Knight Meader, son of Elisha Meader (1788-1877) [0165] and Widow Abigail Webster (  –  ), was born December 4, 1834 in Warren, NH. His parents moved to North Haverhill, NH the next year, and he grew up there. At 17 he went to Lowell MA where he remained for a year. He spent the following three years in California. On his return he married Mary E. Kezer in December, 1862, born November 15, 1839 and died July 15, 1864 the daughter of Franklin Kezer and Hannah Gale. She was sister to David Kezer, who married Mahala Meader [0297] and daughter to the carpenter who built Paul’s [0298] house.

In a few months he went again to California, leaving his wife with her parents, intending to send for her. Fifteen months after he left she died of diphtheria and, according to one source, the shock was so great he never returned home. Another source states he returned to New Hampshire for a short time in the 1880s. After his wife's death he engaged in mining in Idaho. There were no children.