John Person Moody

  Research Notes:

Summary: 23 May 2022

John Person Moody was born outside of marriage on 4 Feb 1866, at the farm/village of Wadje Häckfal, in Östmark parish in Värmland, Sweden. His mother was Gertrud Jonasdotter (b 1846 in Östmark parish). Initially when I was researching I was not clear on his father. But a careful review of the parish records, his father was Per Larrson born 30 Nov 1848, Ny parish. His parents were not married. He was born and baptised with the name "Johannes Persson", but in the US he known by John Person Moody

Initially in my research, I tried to understand his use of the surname "Moody". He did not seem to be a part of the "Modig/Moody" family that I am related to. And through research, I have determined that he was not a family relation.
I have not found any direct information that explains his use of the surname "Moody". He is not recorded living at farm/torp of "Moditorp" in Östmark parish as some of my relations in the "Modig/Moody" family. He is also not recorded in the Östmark parish records as serving in the military.

BUT in July 1887, his mother and younger sister left for North America. Johannes Persson went to Västernorrland. Why? The answer is likely noted in the Torp parish in Västernorrland (1881-1890) where is recorded with a military number/service. It is also here that he was married in 1887. And it is likely that he had been assniged the military name of "Modig".

Many family researchers of the "Modig/Moody" family (my relations) adopted the use of the "Modig/Moody" surname in the US since the name "Modig" was a military name meaning brave [see below, point 2a]. The surname "Moody" was likely a mispronouciation of Modig. It is likely that the letter "g" was not pronouced and thus, the pronouciation of "Modi or Modie", and from there "Moody".

Johannes Persson left Torp/Alnö parish for North America 20 Jan 1893. He likely first went to the home of his mother, Gertrud Jonasdotter who at that time was married to Olof Peterson. His mother lived and farmed in Buffalo Twp, Wright Co [see 1895 MN State].

Note: some researchers on Ancestry Family Trees have indicated and linked John Person Moody (b 1866) father to the same dates as Per Jonnson Moody (b 1825 and died in 1905). This is incorrect [see below].

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Östmark (S) AI:21 (1861-1865) Page 727, Wadje Häckfall; came here from page 60 in 1862
Jonas Hallesson, b 1 May 1812, Wadje Häckfall [and children were born here]
wife Marit Nilsdotter, 10 Nov 1815, Millmark ++
son Hans, b 23 Aug 1843; moves in 1865 to Robjörkelg [sp], Fryksände
dau Gertrud, b 2 Dec 1846; moves in 1863 to page 723 **
dau Kjerstin, b 20 Apr 1856
son Per, b 5 Jun 1838, comes from page 111 [Östmark Häckfall]

** page 723 is another farm within Wadje Häckfall - 4th from bottom
BUT there is a person named Per Larsson, b 30 Nov 1848, Ny parish [abt mid page] note he is recorded as oäkta
and on right column: "...??? Gertr Jonasdr, infra=see below
- he leaves for Ljusdal on 13 Jan 1866;
- his father likely Lars b 11 May 1833, Malung, Kopparberg ???
- his mother was Karin Larsdotter Nordquist b 1828, Norra Ny, m. Lars Jansson Nordquist, b 1804, Norra Ny
[from disbyt, Kaj Larsson id 18832, 30 Nov 2021; but no info on descendants
- index search for Per Larsson - looks like he moved to Ljusdal, then to Ny [Norra Ny]
and then later to Linsell parish in Jämtland where he is married and has children

++ Marit Nilsdotter, b 10 Nov 1815; parents Nils Pärsson and Gertrud Pärsdotter at Mellmark
Östmark, AI:8, 1816-1820, page 64, Mellmark
Nils Pärsson, b 1779
wife Gertrud Pärsdotter, b 1880
NOTE: I do not have the parents recorded in my database, so likely no relation; nor do I have Jonas Hallesson
++ Jonas Hallesson, b 1 May 1812; parents Halle Hallesson and Britta Pärsdotter in Häckfallet


Östmark (S) AI:23 (1866-1870) Page 739, Wadje Häckfall
Gertrud Jonasdotter, b 2 Dec 1846, Wadje Häckfall
Johannes Persson, b oäkta, 4 Feb 1866, Wadje Häckfall; on the right side column
"Fadr Per Larsson ......[??? looks like flyttel - Flyttat?=comes from] tid/till Darlarna; ]

Östmark (S) AI:26 (1871-1875), Page 630, Wadje Häckfall
Gertrud Jonasdotter, b 2 Dec 1846, Wadje Häckfall
Johannes Persson, b oäkta, 4 Feb 1866, Wadje Häckfall
NOTE: on the right side column ["Frejd"[?] och särskilda anteckningar=...special notes]
Kärnbergs and then below it, "[Drang or abbreviation, Dr. Per Larsson, Dalarna]
Kärnberg is likely a farm in Norra Ny parish in Värmland - east of Östmark; but I don't know his date of birth

Östmark (S) AI:29 (1886-1890) Page 564, Wadje Häckfall
Gertrud Jonasdotter, b 2 Dec 1846, Wadje Häckfall; leaves for North America, 12 Jul 1887
dau, b oä, 10 Feb 1878, Wadje Häckfall \endash with mother to North America
son, Johannes Persson, b oäkta, 4 Feb 1866, Wadje Häckfall; leaves 11 Jun 1887
to Alön, Västernorrland
[ Johannes birth, CI:4, page 111, 2nd side; father not named ]
** Gertrud's birth, CI:3, page 245; parents:
Jonas Hallesson and Marit Nilsdotter, age 26, from Bastvåln
see, Östmark (S) AI:14 (1846-1850) Page 27, Bastvåln
Jonas Hallesson, b 1812
Marit Nilsdotter, b 1815, Mellm. = Mellmark or Mellmarkshed ???

note: Östmark AI:28 (1881-1885), page 565, Wadje Häckfall
a dau Maria, b oä 22 Aug 1880, died 19 Apr 1882

Torp (Y) AI:15b (1881-1890) Page 232, Näset
Johannes Persson, b 4 Feb 1866, Östmark; married 8 Oct 1887; Johannes is recorded with the military number/service
wife, Rakel Persdotter, b 25 Oct 1855, Torp Västernorrland;
Selma Johanna, b 15 May 1888, Torp
Per Hjalmar, b 21 Oct 1890, Torp

Alnö (Y) AI:10a (1884-1894) Page 451, Vi or Wii, Västernorrland
Joannes Persson, b 4 Feb 1866, Östmark; married 8 Oct 1887; leaves for North America, 20 Jan 1893
wife, Rakel Persdotter, b 25 Oct 1855, Torp Västernorrland;
Selma Johanna, b 15 May 1888, Torp
Per Hjalmar, b 21 Oct 1890, Torp
Johan Ragnar, adopted, b 14 Dec 1892, Alnö


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Gertrud Jonasdotter, Värmlänningar i Nordamerika .... image 247

Gertrud Jonasdotter, 1 marriage to Petterson, 2 marriage Erickson; last residence, Buffalo
dau, Julia Eugenia, b 1878; married Carl Bernard Dickson, St Paul [30 Mar 1942??]

Zion Lutheran Church records, Buffalo; image 44
Olof Peterson, b 1832 [10 sep ?], Fryksände, married 1887; arrived in US 1872, here 1886, died 12 Sep 1902
wife, Gertrud Jonasdotter, b 2 Dec 1846, Östmark, arrived in 1877, here 1888
dau [Gertrud's], Julia Eugenia, b 1878, W. Norland ???? ... see page 33 .... image 55
Julia ... married to Johan Dickson, b 13 Feb 1866 in Fryksände
with 5 children, and other page references ................

Gertrud second marriage: 4 Jan 1905, to:
John J Erikson [no birth dates etc]
Gertrud ............


Zion Lutheran Church records, Buffalo .....63
Johannes (Person) Moody, b 4 Feb 1866, Östmark
and his family ......
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/61584/images/47830_554911-00062?pId=30216918



1895 MN State, Buffalo Twp, Wright Co, MN; page 4; family 28
Ole Peterson, age 63, b in Swe; farmer; in MN and this place, 22 yrs - ?? 23 yrs
wife, Jennie [Gertrud], age 50 b in Swe
then, fam 29
John Moody, age 29 b in Swe; laborer, lived in the State for 2 years and 1 month
wife, Rachel, age 29 b in Swe
dau, Selma, age 7 b in Swe
son, Haljmar, age 4 b in Swe
son, John, age 2 b in Swe

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1058/images/MNV290_105-0641?pId=1410377

above 1895 MN State Census
fam 30, Carrie O Moody, age 57 b in Swe
and Jim Peterson, age 71 b in Swe; in MN State 27 yrs and 11 mos [1867], this jurisdication 12 years [1883]

then fam 32
Pete Rundquist, age 27, b in Swe; in MN 12 years and 1 month - in this place, the same
wife, Christina, age 26, b in Swe
son, Anton, age 6 b in MN


----------------------- Johannes --- other Ancestry Family Trees - BUT these are .. NOT accurate !!! ------------------

Bergstrom/Israelsson-Fristrom FT [Marcia JamesAsp]; access 21 May 21
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/118963572/person/302096048691/facts
- records that Johannes Person's father was Per Jansson Moody, born Sep 1825, died 12 Mar 1905, Stockholm, Wright Co
and mother Gertrud Jonasdotter, b 2 Dec 1846, Östmark; died 2 Jun 1938, Buffalo, MN

Benton Family Tree [ gloriaroach866]; access 21 May 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/160564220/person/122198584639/facts
- records Johannes Persson's mother Gertrud ....along with a thumbnail photo - she is likely with a number of others
and his father as Peter Larsson Moody, b Sep 1825 in Sweden and died 1905 Wright
- AND, posts a picture: Peter Moody and family, and references History of Wright Co, MN, Vol 2, 1915 **
originally shared by Sharon Knapp on 12 Aug 2015


Ancestors of Imogean McDonald ... FT [Imogean McDonald]; access 21 May 2022
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/12401145/person/26092931564/facts
- names his father as (Peter L) Per Larsson Moody -- BUT incorrectly records his birth as 1825 and death as 1905 in Wright Co
- has links to Johannes Persson Moody's census records
- link to 1895 MN State, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1058/images/MNV290_105-0641?pId=1410377

FamilySearch FT; id M3WT-KVQ
- nothing on his parents; has a photo from a newspaper clipping from 1911 - going fishing - John Moody, b 1867


1900 US, Rockford, Wright; re John Moody
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7602/images/4120324_00514?treeid=&personid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=zcp179&_phstart=successSource&pId=27468492

1910 US, Rockford, Wright
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7884/images/31111_4330254-00419?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=13500893

1920 us Rockford, Wright
John Moody age 53
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4312215-01111?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=48290405

1930 US Rockford,
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6224/images/4610090_00464?pId=78041352



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Another Modig-Moody family in the US - BUT not related to my "Modig-Moody" family

- this is from a Facebook post from Åsa Melander, re Familjen Moody i Idaho [Oct 2018], but I viewed on 28 Dec 2021
- I have written this up and currently saved in my 'yy folder', as of 23 May 2022,
Per Nilson Modig-Moody

John married Rakel Persdotter on 8 Oct 1887 in Västernorrland län, Sweden. (Rakel Persdotter was born on 25 Oct 1855 in Torp, Västernorrland län, Sweden, died on 19 May 1932 in Wright Co, Minnesota, United States and was buried in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Buffalo, Wright Co, Minnesota, United States.)