Individual Details
William James O'HARA
(9 Jul 1873 - 26 Nov 1931)
Sponsors at William's baptism were Patrick O'Hara and Joanna O'Hara.
William emigrated to the United States aged 24, arriving in Philadelphia on 25 April 1897.
I have been told by Jerry Dallahan, a grandson of William, that William was met on his arrival in Philadelphia by his first cousin named Hugh (who was also known as Hubert) O'Hara. Hugh was a son of William's uncle Andrew O'Hara and his first wife, Margaret Gaffney. William soon found work as a bartender in Philadelphia and eventually ran his own saloon in the city. Hugh was also a liquor dealer and both men were very successful businessmen and their families lived very comfortable lives. Even during Prohibition (1920-1933) William was able to continue in business by making his own liquor in the basement of his home which his daughters would transport to the saloon a few blocks away.
Jerry Dallahan has also told me that William had a cousin, Rev. Robert E. McKeon, living in St. Louis, Missouri. William did have a cousin (who was actually both a first cousin once removed and a second cousin once removed) named Mai O'Hara (1900-1971) who was married to a Joe McKeon of Edenmore, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. Could William and Fr. Robert McKeon have been connected (perhaps not a blood connection) through Joe? A search of US Federal Census records shows that 35-year-old Robert was living in Missouri in 1930.
William emigrated to the United States aged 24, arriving in Philadelphia on 25 April 1897.
I have been told by Jerry Dallahan, a grandson of William, that William was met on his arrival in Philadelphia by his first cousin named Hugh (who was also known as Hubert) O'Hara. Hugh was a son of William's uncle Andrew O'Hara and his first wife, Margaret Gaffney. William soon found work as a bartender in Philadelphia and eventually ran his own saloon in the city. Hugh was also a liquor dealer and both men were very successful businessmen and their families lived very comfortable lives. Even during Prohibition (1920-1933) William was able to continue in business by making his own liquor in the basement of his home which his daughters would transport to the saloon a few blocks away.
Jerry Dallahan has also told me that William had a cousin, Rev. Robert E. McKeon, living in St. Louis, Missouri. William did have a cousin (who was actually both a first cousin once removed and a second cousin once removed) named Mai O'Hara (1900-1971) who was married to a Joe McKeon of Edenmore, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. Could William and Fr. Robert McKeon have been connected (perhaps not a blood connection) through Joe? A search of US Federal Census records shows that 35-year-old Robert was living in Missouri in 1930.
Events
| Birth | 9 Jul 1873 | Glooria, Cootehall, Co. Roscommon | |||
| Christen | 9 Jul 1873 | ||||
| Marriage | 29 Apr 1903 | St. Charles Boromeo Church, Kellyville, Pennsylvania - Susan (Susie) MCMENAMIN | |||
| Death | 26 Nov 1931 | Philadelphia | |||
| Burial | 1 Dec 1931 | Holy Cross Cemetery, Philadelphia |
Families
| Spouse | Susan (Susie) MCMENAMIN (1876 - 1959) |
| Child | Elizabeth M. O'HARA (1904 - 1959) |
| Child | Margaret G. O'HARA (1905 - 1985) |
| Child | Mary Jane B. O'HARA (1906 - 1984) |
| Child | Regina Teresa O'HARA (1908 - 1997) |
| Child | William R. O'HARA (1909 - ) |
| Child | Anna Catherine O'HARA (1910 - 1997) |
| Child | Joseph W. O'HARA (1912 - 1972) |
| Child | Rita Frances O'HARA (1914 - 1977) |
| Child | Hugh Andrew O'HARA (1916 - 1916) |
| Father | Roger (Rossy) O'HARA (1844 - 1928) |
| Mother | Elizabeth (Lizzie) LAVIN (1846 - 1919) |
| Sibling | Mary Jane O'HARA (1869 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Anne O'HARA (1872 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth O'HARA (1878 - ) |
| Sibling | Patrick O'HARA (1881 - ) |
| Sibling | Joseph O'HARA (1883 - 1912) |