My Genealogy Hound

JAMES TERNAHAN is one of the representative young business men of the town of Ragan, Harlan county, Nebr., and is a native of Iowa, having been born in Jefferson county, that state, July, 1859. He is the second of a family of seven children born to John and Ann (Paisly) Ternahan, natives of Ireland, but now residents of Iowa. His parents came to this country many years ago and settled shortly afterwards where they now live. The father in early life was a stone-mason, but in more recent years has followed farming. He and his excellent wife are industrious, hard-working people and have brought their children up to the habits of industry and usefulness common to their calling and country.

The subject of this notice was reared on the farm and received only an ordinary common school education, being turned loose on the world at a comparatively early age, to make his way at whatever his hands might find to do. He came to Nebraska in 1878, making his first stop at Hastings, where he soon found employment as a common laborer in an elevator. He went to work with a will, and as an evidence of his determination to build himself up and accomplish something, it may be stated that he held that one place for twelve years, working steadily, saving his earnings and establishing himself in the confidence and good opinion of his employers and the public, generally. In 1889, Mr. Ternahan went to Ragan, and, in connection with others, purchased the grain elevator which he now runs, and does an extensive business in handling grain. He has given his entire time and attention to his business, and this is, in reality, one of the secrets of his success. He is a young man of sound intelligence and good business judgment, steady in habits and thoroughly upright in all his dealings. No man in the community where he lives has made more friends in the same length of time than he has, and no man has demonstrated by his straightforward course that he is better worthy of that friendship than he is.

Mr. Ternahan is a single man, having been, as he says, too busy to think about marrying. He is a man of pleasant address, kind and accommodating, a firm friend and a good fellow in every way. He never dabbles in politics, but is a stanch democrat, believing thoroughly in the principles of his party, and standing by the men and measures of it with a loyally that might be expected of a descendant of a patriotic Celt.