O'Hara, Joseph A., M.D.

Submitted by Mike Miller

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.