Nicholas S. Kerschen, a leading farmer and stockman of Marshall county, is a native of Luxemberg, Germany, born April 29, 1869. He is a son of Charles and Mary N. (Klein) Kerschen, both natives of Luxemberg. The father was a weaver in early life, following that occupation until 1873, when the family immigrated to America. They came to Kansas and settled in Marshall county, making their home in Marysville township. The father bought eighty acres of land and followed farming until his death in 1893.

Charles Kerschen and Mary N. Klein became the parents of two sons. Nicholas S., the subject of this sketch, and Peter G., who died in 1886, in the prime of manhood. He was a well educated young man, with a promising future, and had been a teacher in the Marshall county schools for some time. In 1908 the mother passed away also. Nicholas S. Kerschen was a child of only four years when his parents came to Kansas. Here he was reared on the home farm and educated in the public schools. He remained on the farm assisting his parents until his marriage, which took place July 2, 1891, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Koppes, a daughter of N. S. Koppes, Sr., and Lena (Klas) Koppes, also natives of Luxemberg, Germany, and pioneers of Marshall county. The Koppes family came to Kansas in the late '50s, locating on Government land in Marshall county, where the father was pursuing the peaceful life of a farmer until the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Kansas infantry, and served throughout the war. His regiment was attached to the Army of the West, and he saw much service in Arkansas, Missouri and Texas. At the close of the war he returned to his Marshall county farm, where he spent the remainder of his active life. A few years before his death he retired and removed to Marysville, where he died in April, 1909.

His wife passed away in 1897. Mrs. Kerschen was born in Marshall county, October 15, 1871, where she was reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Kerschen have two children: Carl N., born September 8, 1894, and Arthur, born August 7, 1897. Both boys are now students in the high school. After his marriage Mr. Kerschen continued to follow farming, and in a few years began raising Poland China hogs and cattle on a very extensive scale, and has been very successful in this and his other farming operations. He first bought 200 acres of land and has added to his original holdings from time to time, and now owns 550 acres of some of the best land in Marshall county. He is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, and has taken an active part in public affairs, and particularly in the improvement and increased efficiency of the public schools, and has served on the school board of his township for thirteen years, and was treasurer of the township board for eleven years. In 1912 he was elected to the legislature from the Fortieth district, and during that session served on the committee on highways and the horticultural committee, besides three other committees. He has taken an active interest in the State military organization and from 1884 until 1891 was a member of Company G, Third regiment, Kansas National Guard. He is a Republican and prominent in the local councils of his party. The family are members of the Catholic church. He is one of the substantial men of Marshall county and has a broad acquaintance, who know him as a man of the highest integrity.