Marshall-Riley County KS Archives Biographies.....Moden, J. M. 1857 - 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ks/ksfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 10, 2007, 8:12 pm Author: Emma E. Forter (1917) J. M. MODEN. Of the native-born Swedes who came to America and engaged in general farming and stock-raising with much success, in Cottage Hill township, Marshall county, was J. M. Moden, now deceased, who was born on October 4, 1857, and died on December 29, 1915. Mr. Moden spent his early life in the land of his birth and when twelve years of age came with his parents, John and Anna Moden, to this country. On their arrival in the United States the family located at Laporte, Indiana, where they remained for three years, after which they came to Kansas and here established their home on a farm southeast of Waterville. Here J. M. Moden grew to manhood on the home farm, and there his parents died some years ago. On February 28, 1883, J. M. Moden was united in marriage to Amanda Nelson, who was born in Sweden on October 15, 1861, being the daughter of Daniel and Gustave Nelson. Her parents were also natives of that country and there they resided until 1868, at which time the father came to America and located in Riley county, Kansas, while the mother and the children did not join him in the new land until 1880. The parents then lived on the home farm until the time of their deaths, the father dying in 1895 and the mother in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Moden were the parents of the following children: Frank, Clarence, Lillie and Melinda, all of whom are at home, and Laura Anderson, now a resident of Riley county. At the time J. M. and Amanda Moden were married they moved to their present farm, which at that time consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie, with not a tree or a shrub growing on it. This original farm was later developed and at the time of the death of the husband and father, they were the owners of four hundred and forty acres of prime land, which had been placed under the highest state of cultivation and improved with the best buildings. The house, a beautiful structure, is a model and modern home; the barns and other outbuildings are among the substantial structures of the township. It was only by hard work and economy that Mr. and Mrs. Moden made their work a success, for when they began their married life they were without funds and had no one to assist them. Not alone did they work for themselves, but for the growth and betterment of the community in which they lived and where they were ever held in the highest regard. Mrs. Moden now has the old home, just across the line in Riley county, and one hundred and sixty acres of the estate. She and Mr. Moden were reared in the faith of the Swedish Lutheran church; they were active in all church work and were prominent members of the community. Mr. Moden was not an office seeker, but took the greatest interest in the affairs of the township and the county. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions by Emma E. Forter Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/moden432gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ksfiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb