John Francis Ahearn was born in
Manhattan on April 18, 1853. He was a member of the
New York State Assembly (New York Co., 4th D.) in
1882. Upon leaving the legislature Ahearn was appointed to a clerkship in the
New York City Police Court. Ahearn was a member of the
New York State Senate (6th D.) from 1890 to 1902, sitting in the
113th,
114th,
115th,
116th (all four 6th D.),
117th,
118th (both 8th D.),
119th,
120th,
121st,
122nd,
123rd,
124th and
125th New York State Legislatures (all seven 10th D.). At first a member of the "
County Democracy" (the Anti-Tammany faction of the New York Democrats), later he became an active member of the
Tammany Hall organization, and created a political organization loyal to him, the John F. Ahearn Association. In 1903 Ahearn was elected Manhattan Borough President.
Governor Charles Evans Hughes removed Ahearn from office for corruption and neglect in 1907, but Ahearn won the aldermanic election to fill the vacancy. In 1909 the
New York Court of Appeals ruled that the aldermanic election that returned Ahearn to office following his removal by Hughes was illegal. With Hughes' action being upheld, Ahearn finally vacated the borough presidency. Ahearn died in New York City on December 19, 1920. Both of their sons were leaders in the
Democratic Party in New York. Their son Edward J. Ahearn (1891–1934) was elected to the
New York State Assembly as a representative for the fourth district; succeeding his father in that position in 1921. After Edward's death in 1934, their other son William was also elected to that same position; a post he held at the time of Elizabeth's death in 1937. == References ==