[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8729]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF O'FALLON, IL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2004

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like my colleagues to join me in 
honoring the Sesquicentennial of one of the oldest communities in my 
congressional district, O'Fallon, Illinois.
  The City of O'Fallon, Illinois was named in honor of Colonel John 
O'Fallon. Colonel O'Fallon was a soldier, businessman, real estate 
owner and public minded citizen. His father, James O'Fallon was a 
physician who came to this country shortly before the Revolutionary War 
and served as a surgeon in George Washington's Army. After the war, he 
went to Louisville, Kentucky where he met and married Frances Clark, a 
sister of George Rogers Clark and William Clark, army officers, who 
became famous during the Corps of Discovery exploration of the 
Louisiana Territory in 1804 and for later development of the 
Mississippi Valley.
  Colonel John O'Fallon's father died when he was a child and he was 
reared and educated by his mother and uncles. With his army background, 
he became a soldier. He fought in the War of 1812, where he rose to the 
rank of Captain. After the war ended, O'Fallon became assistant Indian 
Agent to his Uncle William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. 
Later he became a contractor, buying and selling Army supplies. He 
invested his money and became involved with the expanding railroad 
industry across the nation. He promoted the Missouri Pacific railroad, 
as well as the Wabash and B&O railroads. His involvement with railroads 
and the purchase of lands led him to become the namesake of both 
O'Fallon, Illinois and O'Fallon, Missouri.
  Colonel O'Fallon purchased lands in an area north of St. Louis which 
lead to the development of the community of O'Fallon Park, Missouri. 
Always civic-minded, Colonel O'Fallon gave generously to St. Louis 
University and Washington University and also formed an institute which 
became the forerunner of today's St. Louis High Schools and the City of 
St. Louis' public library.
  O'Fallon, Illinois was originally platted from lands surrounding the 
train depot and water tank built for the operation of the B&O railroad. 
Town lots were platted by Ernest Tiedemann under the direction of 
Frederick A. Carpenter and Hugh O. Sheerbarth. On May 18, 1854 these 
lots were sold at a public auction. John and Sarah Distler had erected 
a log cabin on the site in 1851, but the first house in O'Fallon was 
built by Anderson Umbarger in 1855. The first post office was 
established in 1855. O'Fallon was incorporated as a village on January 
27, 1874.
  A newly replicated depot stands near the site of the beginnings of 
this community. O'Fallon's early growth was due to the large coal 
mining industry in the region.
  O'Fallon was also home to major businesses like Willard Stove, 
Tiedeman Milling and the Independent Engineering Company. O'Fallon also 
had abundant agricultural land which supported large farming 
operations.
  Today, O'Fallon is a community of over 20,000 people. It continues to 
grow because of its proximity to Scott Air Force Base and St. Louis. It 
sits astride I-64 and boasts three interchange exits where large 
commercial and retail developments are clustered. O'Fallon also is home 
to the O'Fallon Township High School, which is recognized as one of the 
top high schools in the region and the state of Illinois. The high 
school is also home to the Marching Panthers Band, which has won 
several national awards and is a regular participant in the Macy's 
Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City.
  The City of O'Fallon continues the growth and development envisioned 
by Captain O'Fallon. The rail line he developed continues to run 
through the community delivering vital commerce and supplies to areas 
to the west.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the founding 
of the community and the people of the City of O'Fallon on the occasion 
of its 150th Anniversary.

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