When Elihu Reichelderfer was born on 23 October 1847, in Salt Creek Township, Pickaway, Ohio, United States, his father, Lewis Reichelderfer, was 26 and his mother, Julia Ann Ranck, was 25. He married Ella Snyder or Schneider on 2 January 1867, in Fort Wayne, Allen, Indiana, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 son and 1 daughter. He lived in Carroll Township, Platte, Missouri, United States in 1900 and Algona, King, Washington, United States in 1920. He registered for military service in 1865. He died on 9 March 1925, in Harlan, Springfield Township, Allen, Indiana, United States, at the age of 77, and was buried in Harlan Memorial Cemetery, Harlan, Springfield Township, Allen, Indiana, United States.