Biography of 	O'HARA, Joseph A., M.D., Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller June 1998

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O'Hara, Joseph A., M. D., of New Orleans, coroner for the parish of 
Orleans, was born at New Orleans.  His father, Joseph O'Hara, was a 
native of St. Joseph, New Brunswick, who, after moving to Louisina, 
enlisted in the Southern army during the Civil war of 1861-65, and died 
in New Orleans in 1871, from the wounds he had received in battle.  His 
wife, Anna G. (Norris) O'Hara, was born at sea on a ship that was 
bringing over to Louisiana a number of Jesuits from Ireland.  She died in 
Dr. O'Hara was educated in private schools and the Jesuits' college,
New Orleans.  He filled a clerkship in a drug store soon after leaving 
college, and later went into business on his own account for 10 years; in 
the meantime studying medicine at Tulane university, and taking a course 
in neuropathology in Harvard medical college, and served as externe of 
the Charity hospital for 2 years.  He received the degree of M. D. from 
Tulane in May, 1900, and at once began practicing his profession.  From 
1902 to 1905, the doctor was medical inspector for the city board of 
health, and in 1905 was elected coroner of the parish of Orleans.  A 
proof of his popularity as a stanch democrat, able physician and genial 
gentleman is the fact that he was reëlected for 3 consecutive terms.  
Coroner O'Hara introduced several important changes in his office, by 
making many improvements, particularly in reopening the city morgue and 
installing modern fixtures.  The doctor is a member of the Orleans parish 
and Louisiana State Medical societies, the American Medical association, 
and the Catholic Knights of America.  In 1893 Dr. O'Hara married Miss 
Mary T. Cosgrove, of New Orleans.  Three children,  William,  Ruth and  
Joseph, were born of their union.  Joseph died Aug. 4, 1912, at the age of
9 years.

Source: Louisiana:  Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, 
Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), 
pp. 557-558.  Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D.  Published in 1914, by 
Century Historical Association.