This township was erected June 8, 1875, by decree of court. Its formation was first agitated in 1872. The preliminary measures were successfully accomplished, but the project failed to receive popular sanction at the polls. When, two years later, the agitation was resumed, with the added feature of two additional subdivisions instead of one, it was considered in a more favorable manner, with the result as above stated.

Col. James O’Hara, from whom the township is named, was the pioneer glass manufacturer of Western Pennsylvania. In conjunction with Maj. Isaac Craig he established the first glasshouse at Pittsburgh in 1798. As a soldier he participated in the various Indian expeditions terminating in Wayne’s victories. He owned a large tract of land in this township.

James Powers was the earliest settler, and purchased land in 1796, in partnership with his brother Thomas, near Powers run, which took its name from him. He was probably a resident some time before he and his brother made their purchase. The tract which they bought was a part of lands appropriated for the redemption of depreciated certificates. It had been patented in 1789 to Joseph Mercier, but it had never been occupied. Mr. Powers came before the Indians had left this region, and it is said that he was often compelled to take his rifle with him to his work, and that on several occasions he was driven by the savages across the river. His nephew, Ashley Powers, was also an early resident, and many of his descendants still reside here.

William Preston, a Scotchman, settled in 1798 on Little Pine creek. Strohm and Huddle had preceded him in that vicinity in what is now Indiana township. The descendants of Mr. Preston were in the war of 1812, the Mexican war, and on both sides in the late civil war.

The Ross tract, the purchase of James Ross, included about 2,150 acres, lying along the river and extending about a mile and a half back. None of this land has been sold, but it is now the property of Mrs. Aspinwall and Mrs. Delafield, cousins of Mr. Ross. It is rented in parcels to different individuals.

William Hawkins, Esq., was an early settler on Squaw run, where he died at the age of ninety-five. His grandson, John R. Hawkins, still resides on a part of the old farm. John Weichel, a German, settled on the Ross estate, not far from Ross station, about 1808. He remained on the farm which he cleared up till his death, about 1858, at the age of ninety-three. His son, Henry Weichel, now seventy-six years of age, occupies the same farm. Francis Beatty came in 1809, and settled at Claremont, where his grandson, John B. Beatty, now a resident of O’Hara towmship, resided till 1887.

John Neff was a resident of O’Hara township previous to 1812. He removed to what is now Indiana township, and died there. David Gable was a very early settler and his son Philip, now an octogenarian, resides in the township.

The Galbraiths, the Jessups, Boyds, Cables, Cooks, Nobles, Millers, Wibles, Campbells, Crawfords, Brians, Lapsleys, Speerses, Loves and others were residents early in the present century. Peter Wolf, several by the name of Staley, Bliss and many others were squatters along the river.

The village of Montrose was laid out in 1872 by the "Modern Life Insurance and Improvement Trust Company," of Pittsburgh and Hoboken, by the "Hoboken Land Company." The former has not materialized to any extent. The latter is nine miles from Allegheny City by way of the Pennsylvania railroad. The other stations are Powers run, Claremont, Ross, Guyasuta and Sumner. The Kittanning road crosses the northwestern part of the township. The population in 1880 was 2,498.

Several islands in the Allegheny river form part of this township.

There is in the township one postoffice, Hoboken. The first postoffice, however, was Houston, which was suspended from October 17 to November 27, 1865; changed to Claremont March 28, 1871, and discontinued April 8, 1881.

Pine Creek Presbyterian Church received supplies as early as 1802, Revs. Abraham Boyd, Robert Patterson and James Graham being among the first. Rev. Joseph Stockton, the first regular pastor, assumed charge in 1814, and in the following year an organization was effected with seven members. Hoboken Presbyterian Church was organized July 29, 1879, with thirty-three members, by Revs. E. E. Swift, D. D., and J. M. Shields. Pastors; Revs. D. V. Mays, May 17, 1887. Supplies; G. M. Potter, 1880; O. H. Miller, 1881; George Scott, 1882; G. W. Hazlett, 1882-83; G. W. Shaiffer, 1883-86. The Hoboken Methodist church was built in 1881.

Allegheny County Workhouse and the Allegheny City Home are both in this township, and an account of them will be found, of the former at page 422, Part I, and of the latter at page 703, Part I.