Meader, Ezekeil 1814 – 1896

MEADER, FELKER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 2/2/2021 at 14:36:12

Source: Decorah Republican Feb. 20, 1896 P 4 C 3

EZEKEIL E. MEADER was born in the State of Maine on March 31st, 1814, and died in Hesper, Iowa, Feb. 13th, 1896, from the effects of injuries received by a fall on November 25th, 1895.
On January 1st, 1336, Mr. Meader was united in marriage with Miss Lydia A. Felker, and in 1837 they came west and settled in southern Indiana. When the young people had paid their traveling expenses, and were ready to begin life in their new home, their ready money consisted of a copper cent, and that identical cent is a much prized keepsake at this time. Mr. Meader was a good mechanic and spent his time while in Indiana in building houses and barns, and acting as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, which had well patronized stations all through that part of the country.
In the fall of 1850, another move west was made and the family wintered in Fayette Co., Iowa. In the spring, the Meaders came to Winnesheik county, reaching Hesper on April 12th, 1851. In due course of time, a log house was built, which, in a few years, made place for the present comfortable and commodious frame building. When the official survey of the line between Iowa and Minnesota was made, the chief engineers of the surveying party boarded for a time at the Meader home. Sometimes chiefs of a different kind would call at the door and demand something to eat, but “poor Lo” soon found that Mrs. Meader was a woman who would respond to an appeal much sooner than to a demand.
When Mr. Meader came to Hesper, he secured nearly five hundred acres of land in sections nine and fifteen, then by economical living and careful investments in land and good securities, he gave each of the seven children an “80” upon their coming of age, and had all but one “80” of the original farm left at the time of his death. While exact, and as some thought close, in his dealings, he would much rather make a mistake against himself than against the other party.
In politics Mr. Meader was a Republican of Republicans, and although a radical temperance man, no short comings of the party in respect to temperance legislation, could swerve him from its ranks. While not a politician he was interested in politics, and had opinions upon all the leading topics before the public. Always interested in the cause of education, he served many years on the school board and assisted materially in building our beautiful school house and in supporting our schools.
Mr. Meader never united with the church in Hesper, but was a regular attendant upon the services in the M. E. church, and upon December 20th, he received the ordinance of baptism, as a public profession of his faith.
While probably not one of the wealth-thiest{sic} men in the county, he had for a long time been one of the largest taxpayers.
Another pioneer has passed away, and she who was a helpmeet, indeed, for over sixty long years, the five sons and one daughter who still remain upon this side of the cold river, can feel that he left a record of strict integrity, temperance and morality of which they can justly be proud.
It was the privilege of all the children to be at the funeral, which was held at the Friends’ church on the 16th, Rev. J, Hilburn preaching the sermon and Dr. Philip Slack, assisting. Others of the relatives who camo to attend the funeral, were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kirschman, of Mason City, Mrs. Rose Odson, of Springwater, Mr. Ed. Meader, of Austin, Minn., and Mr. Jeff Meader, of Canton. “H. H.”

Hesper Public Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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