Note 28 — Chapter VIII

General James O’Hara embarked in the Indian trade near Fort Pitt about 1773. On the outbreak of the Revolution, he enlisted in the ninth Virginia regiment, but was soon employed as quartermaster, also serving in that capacity in the Whiskey Insurrection (1793), and Wayne’s Campaign against the Indians (1794). His business talents and enterprise were employed in building up the new town of Pittsburg, where at its inception he had purchased much land. In 1797, he built the first glass manufactory west of the Alleghenies; about the same time he made arrangements to transport salt by water from Onondaga, New York, greatly cheapening the price of that necessity. In 1804, O’Hara was made director of the branch of the Bank of Pennsylvania established at Pittsburg; and on his death (1819) left a large estate to his heirs. General O’Hara was generous and patriotic as well as enterprising. He was a friend of Washington, and served as elector when the latter was chosen president in 1788.—Ed.