Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 


P. O'HARA, a California pioneer of 1860, now residing near Paicines, San Benito county, 
was born in Sligo, Ireland, in 1839. He resided in his native city until October 23, 1854, 
when he embarked for America. He remained in central New York until 1860, when he 
came, via the isthmus of Panama, to California, whence Mrs. O'Hara followed two years 
later, landing in San Francisco, February 26, 1862. 

Mr. O'Hara has always been engaged in farming and stock-raising. In October, 1869, 
he located on Tres Pinos creek, San Benito county, where he remained until 1880, when 
he removed tq his present farm on Los Mertus creek, near Paicines. Here he has a 
flourishing farm of 320 acres, well stocked and provided with valuable improvements. 
He has a substantial farm residence, and commodious barns for his grain and stock, 
the whole place bearing an air of honest thrift. 

Mr. O'Hara was married in Skaneateles, Onondaga county. New York, to Miss Bridget 
May, an intelligent lady, born in Ireland, November 9, 1843. She was a daughter of 
John May, a prosperous farmer, who removed with his family to New York in 1848. 
She was reared and educated in Mottville. They have four children: Kate, William, 
Murray F. and Thomas Austin. 

Thus has industry and perseverance been rewarded by a competence, while uniform 
uprightness of dealing has gained for Mr. O'Hara an enviable reputation wherever known.