O’Kane received his A. B. degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1852, and his A.M. degree in 1855. Immediately upon graduation, he accepted a position there as Tutor of Mathematics. Even though he was only a tutor, the students always referred to him as “Professor.” In addition, in recognition of his musical abilities, O’Kane was for years the musical precentor in the daily chapel devotions. He also organized and ran a choral society at the school, and was the first musical instructor in the Ohio Wesleyan Female College.

In 1857, O’Kane became a school principal in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1864, he went to work for the Phillip Phillips piano company. He stayed with the company until it moved to New York in 1867, at which time he moved to Delaware, Ohio, and became a traveling salesman for the Smith American Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts. During that time he visited conferences and Sunday school conventions, and became well known throughout the area.

O’Kane’s works include:

• Fresh Leaves, 1868
• Dew Drops of Sacred Song
• Songs of Worship
• Every Sabbath
• Jasper and Gold, 1877
• Dew of Hermon
• Forward Songs and Hymns
• Redeemer’s Praise
• Glorious Things
• Morning Stars
• Selected Anthems (co-author with his son, Edward)
• Joy to the World, 1878
• Songs of Redeeming Love, 1882 & 1887