Biographical Sketch of John O'Fallon, Jefferson County, Missouri

>From "History of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Crawford and 
Gasconade Counties", Biographical Appendix, Goodspeed Publishing 
Company, 1888.

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Hon. John O'Fallon, a resident of what is known as "O'Fallon Park," 
near Sulphur Springs, where he has lived for fifty-three years, with
the exception of two years in St. Louis County, where he was born in
1831, was brought by his parents, Maj. Benjamin and Sophia (Lee)
O'Fallon, to Jefferson County when but three years old.  The parents
settled where he now resides, and here the father died in 1842.  He
was born near Louisville, Ky., about 1792, and when but a small boy 
came with his uncle, Gov. William Clark, to Missouri, with whom he 
lived until thirteen years of age.  He then joined the Indians, with 
whom he lived for many years, and was afterward appointed Indian agent
for the whole Northwest, which position he held for perhaps thirty
years.  "O'Fallon Bluff," on Platte River, was named for him.  He
spent nearly his entire life with the Indians, was a great personal
friend of Gen. Jackson, and was grand marshal of the day in St. Louis 
during the funeral of Gen. La Fayette.  His father, Dr. O'Fallon came
from Ireland to America about the time of the Revolution, in which he
served as a surgeon, but afterwards settled in Kentucky.  His wife was
a sister of Gov. Roger Clark, of Kentucky, and of Gov. William Clark,
of Missouri, and was of English parentage.  John's mother was a daugh-
ter of Dr. Lee, a native of France, but who also came to the United
States about the time of the Revolutionary War, and was among the very
early settlers of St. Charles, Mo., where he built the first stone
house, which still stands.  Mrs. O'Fallon died in San Francisco, Cal.,
about 1881, where she had lived for about six years.  Col. John 
O'Fallon, as he is usually called (which title he received during the
war, having raised a regiment of Home Guards, of which he had command,
although not in active service,) was educated at St. Louis University
for five years, and then spent one year at Shelbyville (Ky.) College.
His early education was by a private tutor; he was reared on a farm,
and has since had charge of his real estate, which consists of land
and sawmills, flouring mills, etc.  At one time he was the largest tax-
payer of Jefferson County, owning 20,000 acres, in 1875; 3,000 known as
Indian Retreat, near Sulphur Springs, where he makes his home.  He has
figured quite prominently in the public affairs of the State; is an 
active Democrat in politics, wielding more influence, perhaps than any
other man in the State.  He was made a delegate to the National Con-
vention, at Charleston, S. C., and Baltimore, Md., in 1860, as a Doug-
las Democrat; also in 1872, at the convention that nominated Horace
Greeley, and made a thorough canvas of Missouri for the liberal 
element.  He was chosen as a delegate to the National convention that
nominated Hancock, but did not attend in person.  He was instrumental
in nominating and electing Gen. Marmaduke, doing more than any other
ten men in the State of Missouri.  He was a member of the Legislature
from 1882 to 1884, and nominated George B. Clark for State auditor;
was successful in securing the nomination.  Although a Southerner by
birth, he was a strong Union man during the war, and did all in his
power for its preservation.  He has, since that struggle, labored earn-
estly and enthusiastically to allay the animosity engendered by the 
action of the war.  His principal reason for putting forth such strenu-
ous efforts for the access of Gen. Marmaduke to the governorship, was
that he (the Colonel) being a stanch Union man, championed the cause
of one who figured prominently in the Confederate army.  This is only
one of the many instances in which he has put forth every effort for 
that noble and worthy cause, and for burying the "bloody shirt."  Col.
O'Fallon has been an active worker for the Democratic party for nearly
thirty years, and has been personally acquainted with nearly every man
of public prominence in the State of Missouri during that time.  His
mail is flooded with correspondence from politicians all over the 
State, seeking his influence and support to offices of trust, and upon
the great questions of the day which mostly concern the public.  He
has frequently been solicited and is urged today by his numerous 
friends to announce himself as a candidate for governor, or for any
office of trust in the State.  He is not only an active politician, but
is an earnest worker for all industrial enterprises.  He is a firm
friend of temperance, a believer in religion, and a firm supporter of
the church.  He was one of the first projectors and first stockholders
in the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad.  He is a fluent
speaker, an able debater, and a man of pleasing address.

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