In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1874
From An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912)
JAMES J. AHERN (18S2), of Eidsvold township, has been a resident of Lyon county thirty years, since he was eight years of age. He farms 400 acres of the 560 acres of his father's estate, the home place being on the southwest quarter of section 8, adjoining the village of Taunton.
Mr. Ahern is a son of the late Garrett Ahem and Kate (Brown) Ahern. The parents came from Ireland and were early settlers of Illinois. They came to Lyon county in 1882 and took up their residence in Eidsvold township. The father died in 1897 and the mother now makes her home with the subject of this review.
To these parents, in Sangamon county, Illinois, on October 9, 1874, James J. Ahern was born. In 1882 he came with the family to Lyon county, and his home has ever since been in Eidsvold township. He assisted in the management of the home farm until 1903 and since that time he has had full charge.
Mr. Ahern is a member of the Catholic church of Minneota, of the Knights of Columbus lodge of Marshall, and of the Modern Woodmen lodge of Taunton. Of the last named he is one of the managers. Mr. Ahern is not married. His brothers and sisters are Garrett, Philip P. and Michael, of Taunton; Thomas, of Hampden, North Dakota; William, of Eidsvold township; Josie and Nance, who live at home; Nellie (Mrs. Thomas Walsh), of Fargo, North Dakota; and Katherine (Mrs. M. J. Breen), of Minneapolis.
As printed in An illustrated history of Lyon County, Minnesota (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.