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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 daughter 

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 taxpayer 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 Convention, at Charleston, S. C., and Baltimore, Md., in 

1860, as a Douglas 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 earnestly and enthusiastically to 

allay the animosity engendered by the action of the war.  His principal 

reason for putting forth such strenuous 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.