Syracuse Journal, June 13, 1927
John P. O’Hara, former president of the village of Camillus and proprietor of the O’Hara Hotel in that village, died early Monday morning after an illness of several months.

Born in Mottville, April 19, 1850, a son of Mr and Mrs. Patrick O’Hara, he moved with his parents to Lowell, Wisconsin, that same year. When 16 years of age they moved to Skaneateles to live. While in that village he engaged with his brothers, Michael J. and James W. O’Hara, in the cooperage business.

In 1885 he married Catherine Durkan of Skaneateles, and in 1891 the three brothers left Skaneateles to live in Camillus, where they engaged in the coal and cooperage business.

In 1907 Mr. O’Hara retired from that firm and bought a hotel, of which he was proprietor until the time of his illness.

From 1909 to 1919 Mr. O’Hara was president of that village. He was a communicnt of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, from where the funeral services will take place.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Catherine Durkan O’Hara; a son, William O’Hara; three daughters, Miss Louise O’Hara, Mrs. Frederick Donohue and Mrs. Frank Murray; three brothers, Michael J. and James W. O’Hara, all of Camillus,, and Thomas F. O’Hara of Newark.

Marcellus Observer, September 5, 1934
M. J. O'Hara, who was recently stricken by a shock, passed away at his home in Camillus Saturday evening, Sept. 10, at 10 p.m. In the death of Mr. O’Hara, Camillus has lost one of its leading citizens, one who has done as much for the welfare of the village as any one man.

He was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, on Sept. 29, 1858. There he spent his early life, coming to Skaneateles Falls in 1884, where he was interested in a cooper shop and in 1890 opened a cooper shop in Camillus, where he manufactured apple barrels. He was also in the coal business, which business he has continued.

During the $9 million improvement of the old canal, he had a boat loading contract and employed many men and teams.

In 1910 Mr. O’Hara opened a garage using his old cooper shop for such purpose and became an agent for Ford. This he continued up to the time of his death.

Mr. O’Hara established the bus route from Camillus to Syracuse in 1918 and continued it until it was taken over by the New York State Railway.

In 1926 Mr. O’Hara felt he should branch out and went to Syracuse, where he with his sons opened a salesroom for Ford vehicles and continued until the depression forced him to give up that business, but he has continued his gas and garage business here with the aid of his sons.

Mr. O’Hara was a school director for a number of years and was instrumental in the erection of the present school building. He also had a part in the organization of the Camillus Bank and was one of its first Vice Presidents and a member of its loan committee. He was a holder of much real estate in the Camillus village.

Mr. O’Hara married Anne Jane Major of Skaneateles Falls, who died several years ago. His death unquestionably was hastened by the sad death of his daughter, Loretta (Mrs. Paul Staats) just a few weeks ago.

He is survived by his two sons, Charles and Joseph O’Hara, and one daughter, Mrs. L. J. Edwards of Syracuse and several grandchildren. Two brothers, James of Camillus and Thomas of Newark also survive.

Funeral services were held from St. Joseph’s Church Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. where a high mass of requiem as celebrated. Burial was in St. Mary’s cemetery at Skaneateles Falls. B. L. Bush & Son were in charage of arrangements.

Auburn Citizen-Advertiser, November 12, 1971
Joseph F. O’Hara, 77, of 82 Genesee St., Camillus, a former member and president of the Camillus Board of Education, died Thursday at his home.

A life resident of Camillus, Mr. O’Hara was associated for many years with the O’Hara Insurance Agency Inc. Before that he was owner of O’Hara Motor Sales.

Mr. O’Hara served 21 years on the Camillus Board of Education, including six years as president. He was an Army veteran of World War I and had served in Europe.

He was a trustee of St. Joseph’s Church for more than 40 years and was a member of the Holy Name Society.

Marcellus Press-Observer, March 2, 1988
Margaret Caveny O’Hara, 93, formerly of West Genesee St., Camillus, died February 25.

Mrs. O'Hara was born in Warners and had resided in Camillus since 1925. She was a 1912 graduate of Warners High School and a graduate of the Jordan Training Class. Mrs. O’Hara was a former teacher in Memphis and Warners.

She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and was a former president of its Altar and Rosary Society. She was also a member of the church’s Golden Agers.

As a native of Camillus and now residing in Onondaga Hill, Ed O’Hara decided to share his stories about what life was like in the village when he was growing up. He spoke of playing basketball in barns and swimming in Nine Mile Creek as a child for entertainment. He recalled how the village sewer was dug by hand with picks and shovels in ’30s. His father had a coal business and uncle owned a Ford dealership.

Born in Camillus and a 1946 graduate of Camillus High School, located in what is now the senior housing on First Street in the village, O’Hara went on to graduate from Niagara University in 1950 and then was drafted. He served two years in the Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Munich, Germany. He returned home to Camillus, where he had an insurance business in the village for 40 years.

One of his fondest memories includes playing on the Camillus High School basketball team.

“We won the Section III state championships two years in a row in 1945 and ’46,” O’Hara said. “With only seven people on the team, it was kind of a miracle, but we actually had a good team.”