Guide to the Archival Collections.pdf - Missouri History Museum

with approved security. A.M. O’Fallon.” Printed by Jefferson Democrat Print, Hillsboro.
A.M. O’Fallon Broadside for Sale at Public Auction, Missouri History Museum Archives, St.
Louis.
A1149
O'Fallon and Hatch.
Bankbook, 1871. 1 volume (46 pages)
Bankbook of Union National Bank of New Orleans in account with O'Fallon and Hatch.
Cite as: O'Fallon and Hatch Bankbook, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1150
O'Fallon Gun Club (Saint Louis, Missouri).
Record book, 1883-1886. 1 volume; 1 folder
Record book contain the by-laws of the O'Fallon Gun Club of St. Louis, records of its
meetings and shoots, and its accounts.
Cite as: O'Fallon Gun Club Record Book, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.
A1151
O'Fallon, John (1791-1865).
Papers, 1780-1925. 1 box
John O’Fallon was born 17 November 1791, near Louisville, Kentucky, to Dr. James
O’Fallon and Frances (Fanny) Clark O’Fallon. His uncle, William Clark, supported John
financially during his secondary education at an academy in Danville, Kentucky. John studied
law, but before he began to practice, he joined the U.S. Army in 1811. He fought in the War of
1812 and was badly wounded in the battle of Tippecanoe. In September 1812 he was made an
ensign and was stationed in the Old Northwest under Gen. William Henry Harrison. He
participated in the siege of Fort Miegs and in Gen. Harrison’s attack on Detroit. In 1813, he was
made a second lieutenant, and in March 1814, he was promoted again. By that time he was based
in St. Louis. He worked for the Missouri Fur Company from 1812 until its dissolution in 1818.
He then shipped dry goods down the Missouri on steamboats from 1818 until 1823. He married
his first wife, an Englishwoman named Harriet Stokes, around 1820, with whom he had at least
one child. After giving up the river trade, he became a lawyer and often dealt with real estate.
After the death of his first wife, he married Caroline Sheets in 1827 with whom he had at least
four children. He was named the first president of the St. Louis branch of the Bank of the United
States in 1828. He also invested in hotels and railroads. In 1838, he began to correspond with
people in Ireland to find his father’s family. He was an active participant in the Whig party’s
campaign to elect Gen. Harrison to the presidency in 1840. His business ventures were generally
quite successful, and John O’Fallon became a very respected and wealthy citizen who supported
the city’s benevolent and civic efforts. He died December 17, 1865, in St. Louis.
This collection consists chiefly of letters John O’Fallon received from his family and friends.
The letters range from his school and army days to Gen. Harrison’s campaign for the presidency.
Altogether, these documents give a rather superficial but well-rounded sketch of his activities
from the time he left school around 1810 up through the 1840s. There are almost no papers from
later in his life. Besides all of the papers pertaining to John O’Fallon, there are a few other family
documents in this collection belonging to his brother Benjamin to John O’Fallon’s estate, and to
his wives and sons John J. and Ben.
Finding aid available.
Cite as: John O'Fallon Papers, Missouri History Museum Archives, St. Louis.