Ventura County Biographies

William O'Hara

Submitted by Sandy Neder

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

 
William O'Hara, a rancher near Santa Paula, is a native of Bangor, Maine, born 
May 4, 1841. His father, Henry O'Hara, was born in Ireland, in 1804, and his 
mother, Nancy (Galaher) O'Hara, was born in the same country, in 1806. His 
parents were married in 1824, and emigrated to the State of Maine, where they 
lived on a farm, excepting two years spent in Illinois. In 1849 Mr. O'Hara's 
father came to California, and engaged in mining for two years in Tuolumne 
County, and returned to his home in Maine. Soon after his return the family 
removed to the State of Illinois, where they remained until in 1867 they came to 
Contra Costa County, California, where they engaged in farming until his 
father's death. The subject of this sketch was a miner in Virginia City, Nevada, 
two years. He was then sent on a mining and exploring expedition into the wilds 
of Arizona in search of gold, in company with C. L. Strong, and backed by the 
Bank of California; the expedition consisted of 100 men.  They were harassed by 
the Indians, and a good many of their company were murdered. They fed the 
Indians in the day-time, but in return they made treacherous attacks upon them 
in the night. The expedition was finally abandoned, with a heavy loss.
    In 1865 Mr. O'Hara came to Santa Paula and bought 150 acres of land, known 
as the Briggs tract. He afterward sold it and bought his present ranch of 160 
acres, two and a fourth miles west of Santa Paula. He bought of a party who took 
it for Government land, and it was supposed to have been grant land, but after 
lawing over it for nine years to perfect his title he was obliged to buy of the 
ex-mission. At that time the valley was a vast mustard field, containing only a 
few settlers. Among them was John Montgomery, E. B. Higgins, Peter Boyle, and 
William McCormack. Mr. O'Hara built a small house and engaged in stock-raising. 
He remained here for twelve years, cooking his own food, - a second Robinson 
Crusoe. The little house has since been destroyed, and a stately mansion is now 
occupied and filled with the comforts and luxuries of life. Beautiful grounds 
surround the house, planted with beautiful trees and shrubs, and the whole 
property is transformed into a most delightful home, with its large barns and 
beautiful fields. The whole valley is now dotted with fine houses, beautiful 
trees, and wide, well cultivated fields.
    Mr. William O'Hara was married in 1877, to Miss Mary E. Kelley, who was born 
in Napa County, California, February 17, 1858, the daughter of Michael Kelley, a 
native of County Kilkenny, Ireland. Her mother, Maggie (Whalen) Kelley, was also 
born in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. O'Hara have two children, a boy and a girl, both 
born in their present home, viz.: Henry, born January 21, 1880; and Georgia, 
born December 12, 1886.
    Mr. O'Hara's first efforts on the ranch was stock-raising, principally 
cattle, but afterward in raising barley, corn, and hogs. At one time he had as 
many as 3,000 head of stock, which never had any disease among them; the 
wild-cat and coyote had to be watched to keep them from stealing the young pigs. 
The price received for live weight was from two and a half to seven cents per 
pound. He is now engaged in bean raising; in 1889 he harvested fifth-seven tons, 
and the price is now five cents per pound; the general price is from two and a 
half cents to five cents, according to the market. He has added to his original 
purchase forty acres of hill land, and has planted 27,000 gums trees, which are 
doing nicely. He is also interested with his brothers, George and Hugh, and his 
nephew, John McClosky, in 320 acres of oil land, and their producing wells give 
thirty barrels per day. They have all the machinery and tools connected with the 
business. Mr. O'Hara built his present residence in 1887, and it is an ornament 
to the country. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and cast his first vote for 
Abraham Lincoln, and has continued to vote for the Republican party.
 
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS 
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 340