John William Lawrence O'Hara was born OCT 1863 in Vepery, Madras, India. He died MAR 1899 in Tsavo, Uganda. He was the son of John Lawrence O'Hara and Pamella-Elizabeth.
John William Lawrence O'Hara had 2 marriages/partners. His 1st wife was Margaret Stokes-Hill. They were married JUN 1886 in Union Chapel, Coonoor, India. Their known child was Joseph William Lawrence O'Hara.
His 2nd wife was Cecelia Mary Monk. They were married AFT 1889. Their 2 known children were William (Lawrence) Anthony Patrick O'Hara and Margaret Mary O'Hara.
| + | ||||||||
| | | |||||||
| | ||||||||
| | | |||||||
| |
| Event | Date | Place | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptism | 31 DEC 1863 | Vepery, Vijagapatum, India | ||
| Residence | 1887 | Rangoon, Burma | Rangoon, Burma |
| Event | Date | Place | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupation | 1889 | possibly Calcutta Presidency, India | Accountant, Public Works Department | |
| Occupation | 1895 | Madras, India | Preventative Officer Harbour Trust Board |
The most 'famous' of my ancestors. He was a road engineer on the railway that went through Tsavo, Uganda and was killed by a man-eating lion described in "The Man Eaters of Tsavo" by Lt Col. J H Patterson, and retold in two Hollywood films.
His gravestone at Tsavo reads:
----------------------------------------
Sacred to the memory of
JOHN WILLIAM LAWRENCE O'HARA
Of Madras, India
Killed by a Kion on the Road
To Tavata EAST AFRICA
On the 11 th MARCH 1899
AGED 35 YEARS
Farewell then for a While
Farewell Pride of my Heart
It cannot be that Long
We Dwell thus torn Apart
Beyond the grave I'll meet with Thee
Erected by his loveing wife
----------------------------------------
How he came to be involved in the railway in not known.
He was one of the original funders (giving at least Rs. 100) of the Baldwin Boys' High School was established in 1880, by a grant of money from the Honorable John Baldwin, from the U.S.A., founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1883 the school was also known as the Episcopal Methodist School, and took in boys as well as girls, also boarders. Boarders were all treated as First Class, and lived with the Principal Rev. Ira A. Richards, B.A., and they ate at the same table. School hours were : in the cold weather, from 10 A.M. to 3.30 P.M.; and in the hot weather from 7 A.M. to 12 A.M. Christmas holidays were fixed from 10th December to 10th January.).
information taken from http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2960/baldwin.htm
The Madras Almanac in 1895 - 1905 lists Sylvan Cottage, Coonor as being owned by C.B. Hill and J.W. O'Hara. Prior to this (from1884) its owner was M. Hill, this is probably Margaret his first wife's father Moses's house.