James O'Fallon: (1749 - bef.1795)
He was born in Athlone/County of Roscommon, Ireland
and was educated as a physician, by the time he came to America, shortly
before the Revolutionary War. He married, Frances ("Fanny") Eleanor Clark
(daughter of John Clark & Ann Rogers) in 1791 at Louisville, Kentucky
and they had sons: John B.(17911-1865) & Benjamin (1793-1842). Fanny
was the sister of the "Father
of the West", George Rogers Clark (1752-1818)
& William Clark (1770-1838) of the "Corps
of Discovery", both played a major role in clearing the way for European
settlement of the northern half of the middle west.
James crossed the atlantic in (shipwrecked
off the coast, shortly before the colonies revolted) 1774, going to Wilmington,
North Carolina and in 1776 found himself jailed, "as a man dangerous to
the patriotic cause". During the Revolutionary War, James served as a captain
in the rebel calvary in 1777 and as a senior surgeon in Washington army
in 1779. After the war he moved (1780's) from Philadelphia to Charleston,
South Carolina with Major Pierce Butler & Alexander Gillon, later settled
in Louisville, Kentucky where he became involved with the South Carolina
Yazoo Company.
In 1789 (the year the states unite under the
Constitution & George Washington as President), O'Fallon found himself
on "hot" real estate. The British in the western Great Lakes were sending
allied northern tribes on raids into Kentucky, while also on the brink
of war with Spain and planning [Lord Edward Fitzgerald - Major of the 54th
Reg't.- leaves Mackinac on what is presumed to be a military survey of
the Mississippi from over 100 miles above the Falls of St.Anthony (probably
to Robert Dickson's post at Sauk Rapids) to New
Orleans] an invasion down the Mississippi to Spanish Louisiana. At the
same time American settlers were depopulating Illinois Country for the
safety of the west bank of the Mississippi where the Spanish welcomed them
with opened arms and free land. Mean while, the new U.S. government sends
Lt.John Armstrong on a information gathering mission to St.Louis &
the Missouri River.
Late in 1789, Governor Telfair of Georgia
and the colonies General Assembly, sold to the S.C.Yazoo Co. 5 million
acres of land on the east side of the Mississippi River (for $60,000) for
the purpose of settlement. As the companies Agent General & Attorney,
O'Fallon was given the task of settling the land grant area. During the
winter of 1789/90 he raised a volunteer army of settlers from Kentucky,
formulating detailed plans for the colony. On 16 July 1790, James wrote
to the Spanish Louisiana Governor, Estavan Miro, regarding the plans of
colonizing of the companies land grant, "...I have been extensively
commissioned and secretly charged, to negotiate with your Excellency and
personally to wait upon you, at New Orleans...through the policy which
I have urged them [the partners in the company] to the adoption of, with
Spain, that they have unanimously fallen in with this plan, of uniting
with the Spaniards...It is a fact well known and acknowledged throughout
the whole of this Western Country...that the inhabitants thereof, can derive
no commercial or political advantage whatever, by their being subjected
to Congressional Supremacy placed in the Atlantic States; and that their
last hope of ever rising into any consequence, as a people, must be founded,
on confederating, independently, among themselves, on the basis of a Separate
Sovereignty from that of the present Congress...the Company will, at all
events, push forward their settlement, with system, precaution & force...The
Company consists of Gentlemen of great fortune & reputation, highly
connected and by their dependants posts and Grants of lands to characters
of weight and of the same antifederal principles with themselves, forming
a chain of mighty interest from New York, from the very midst of Congress
itself...All this I am clearly confident I can be instrumental in bringing
about, with the aid of our mutual friend, General Wilkinson...". On December
17, 1790 James writes to Col.Brian Bruin, who resides in the Washitaw settlement
near Natches, "...in the month of March, I expect to be down in the neighbourhood
of the Yazoo River, with a Regular Batallion consisting of 750 privates...With
these go between 3 and 4000 Militia men, well armed, with their respective
familys...These are my recuits. Those of the Company are to start, about
the same time, through the Creek nation, 2000 from Georgia, 700 from South
Carolina and 500 from North Carolina. Gen.MacDowell, Col.Farr & Major
Christmas head the 3 divisions...Gen.[George Rogers] Clarke the Illinois
Hero, is to command the whole, Regulars & Militia, when met. Gen.Sevier
(now in Congress) is second in command. The whole is under my direction...No
colony ever settled, commenced with such force...". Again on December 21,
1790, James writes to Col.Bryan Bruin, "...our fixed purpose is, immediately
to become organized into a Separate Government, like Vermont, unconnected
with the Atlantic States, and to ally ourselves with Spain, offensively
& defensively, as the impregnable barrier of Louisiana, if they will
have us...All we want of Spain, is a small indulgence in our trade and
to unite with us, sincerely in reconciling the Choctaws & Chickasaws.
If they do not, the British offer it. And if neither do it, Congress will
attempt it. And if all fail, why, Congress, The Creeks and our own force
will unite, in exterminating them, should they prove hostile. But our first
offer is to Spain...".
Early in 1791, O'Fallon's must of realized
his plans were falling apart. He fires a letter off to Spanish Gov.Mira,
charging him of inciting the colonies neighboring tribes [Col.Bruin &
Gen.Wilkinson, loyal to the Spanish, informed them of O'Fallon's designs],
than President Washington issued a Proclamation in the previous August
"...against the whole enterprise..." and again in March a Proclamation
stating, "Whereas it hath been represented to me that James O'Fallon is
levying an armed force in that part of the State of Virginia which is called
Kentucky, disturbs the public peace and sets at defiance the treaties of
the United States with the Indian tribes...that those who have incautiously
associated themselves with the said James O'Fallon may be warned of their
danger, I have therefore thought fit, to publish this proclamation here
by declaring that all persons violating the treaties and act aforesaid
shall be prosecuted with the utmost rigor of the law. And I do, moreover,
require all officers of the United States whom it may concern to use their
best exertions to bring to justice any persons offending in the premises...".
In May of 1791, Washington is joined by Thomas Jefferson in condemning
O'Fallon by his letter to the Attorney of the District of Kentucky, "Sir,
A certain James O'Fallon is, as we are informed, undertaking to raise,
organize and commission an army, of his own authority, and independent
of that of the government, the object of which is, to go and possess themselves
of lands which have never yet been granted by any authority...with an avowed
design to hold them by force against any power, foreign or domestic...it
cannot be permitted that all the inhabitants of the United States shall
be involved in the calamities of war and the blood of thousands of them
be poured out, merely that a few adventurers may possess themselves of
lands...they may be assured, that if this undertaking be prosecuted, the
whole force of the United States will be displayed to punish the transgression..."
James may have not been concerned with these
threats from the fledging government, for by this time the new United States
had attempted to protect it citizens by sending Gen.Harmar with 1,500 men
into Indian Territory to "chastise" the tribes who were allied to the British,
but this force was soundly defeated on the Maumee. Unable to deal effectively
with the northern problem Washington sent Gen.St.Clair with a force to
Natchez Country to oust the colony and arrest O'Fallon (in October of 1791
the Spanish Crown ordered his arrest from New Orleans). St.Clair was successful
with his mission in the lower Mississippi but failed in his mission to
the north, where his army of 2,000 troops were defeated (about 900 killed)
by the British allied northern tribal confederacy (led by Miami Chief Little
Turtle) at the headwaters of the Wabash.
The remainder of O'Fallon's life is still
somewhat of a mystery to me but he apparently survived his squabble with
the U.S. and is found practicing his profession at Fort Steuben (the fort
was ironically built on the Ohio River in 1786/87, by Maj. Hamtramck &
an American Regiment, sent by the Continental Congress to protect surveyors
mapping the Northwest Territories & to keep settlers out of the
Ohio Valley). In February of 1793, his friend Thomas Paine wrote him
words of encouragement to keep writing and in September of 1793 another
friend, Anthony Wayne, writes offering him a position as Senior Surgeon
for his planned punitive military expedition against the British allied
northern tribes. By March of 1794 O'Fallon's estate is being distributed
by his wills executor, William Crogan.
John Benjamin O'Fallon: (1791 - 1865)
He was the son of James O'Fallon & Frances
E.Clark and married 1st.to Harriett Stokes and married 2nd.to Ruth Caroline
Sheets. His children were: Ellen, William, Harriett, Caroline (m. Dr.Charles
Alexander Pope), James J. (m. Ann Harris), Benjamin (m.1st.to Sallie Champe
Carter & m.2nd.to Mary Shreve Carter), Henry A. & John J. (m. Caroline
Mastin). His father died when he was young and was raised & educated
by his mother, step-fathers & uncles.
John fought in the War of 1812, rising to
the rank of captain. After the war he returned to St.Louis where he became
an assistant to his uncle, William Clark, who was Indian Agent there. He
later contracted to the U.S. Army, furnishing supplies and re-invested
his growing fortune into promoting railroad ventures. He died at his home
in St.Louis on 17 December, 1865.
Benjamin O'Fallon: (1793 - 1842)
He was the son of James O'Fallon & Frances E.Clark
and married to Sophia Lee. His children were: Fannie C., John, William
C. (m.Miss McCreary), Charles T., Emily R. & Ellen.
American troops arrived at Prairie du
Chien in June of 1816 and constructed Ft.Crawford there. Benjamin later
became the Indian Agent at Ft.Crawford and a reference was made of him
on 10 Feb.1818, "...A duel fought this morning between Mr O'Fallon, Indian
Agent and Lt.Shade of the garrison-the latter received the second shot
in his under jaw-O'Fallon unfortunately(?) escaped without injury...".
And on 16 feb.1818, O'Fallon the Amer.Ind. agent at Prairie du Chien writes;
"...What do you suppose, sir, has been the result of the passage through
my agency, of this British nobleman? (Lord Selkirk)...Two entire bands,
and part of a third, all Sioux, have deserted us and joined (Robert) Dickson,
who has distributed to them large quantities of Indian presents, together
with flags, medals, etc...A courier, who had arrived a few days since,
confirms the belief that Dickson is endeavoring
to undo what I have done and secure to the British govt. the affections
of the Sioux...Dickson, as I have before observed, is situated near the
head of the St.Peter's, to which place he transports his goods from Selkirk's
Red River establishment, in carts...He is directed to build a fort on the
highest land between Lac du Travers and Red River, which he supposed will
be the established line between the two countries. This fort will be defended
by 20 men, with 2 small pieces of artillery...". Benjamin goes north to
council with the Sioux, returning to Prairie du Chien on the 28th of February.
Again that spring O'Fallon leaves (10 April) Prairie du Chien with 50-60
soldiers for a council with the Sioux at the Falls of St.Anthony. In a
letter written by Dr.Samuel Peters at P.D.C., on 25 jul.1818,
we find out what happened on this trip, "...Mr.O'Fallen, Deputy Indian
Agent & Lt.Armstrong with 60 soldiers sailed in 2 armed boats from
Prairie du Chien up the Miss. to River St.Peter by order of Lt.Col.Wm.Chambers
to intercept Col.Robert Dickson coming [as they thought] with 500 Indians
to take the Fort and villiage of P.D.C. and they met Col.Dickson near River
St.Croix in 2 birch canoes with his wife & 3 children-when W.O.Fallon
arrested Col.Dickson as his prisoner & put him under a sergeant &
his guard & sailed back to P.D.C. where he arrived on 27 april with
his prisoner and after a salute to the garrison the prisoner was conducted
under a guard to the garrison & there examined by Col.Chambers and
then permitted to go to his family then in P.D.C...". Dickson was on his
way from his post on Big Stone Lake to Prairie du Chien when arrested by
O'Fallon at the mouth of the St.Croix River, for having no passport - Dickson
was sent to St.Louis by Col.Chambers, on charges of attempting to alienate
the Sioux to the U.S. Government. In May, Dr.S.Peters writes again of the
incident, "...Col.Robert Dickson was married to Madam Elizabeth Weenenow
& she was baptized the same day Col.Dickson was ordered on board an
armed boat under Lt.Armstrong and a guard of soldiers and W.O.Fallon and
sailed a prisoner down the Miss. to St Lewis 600 Miles there to be judged
by Gov.Clark. I was informed by ___ ___ that the articles alledged against
Col.Dickson were: 1) He had come within the U.S. without a passport. 2)
He had traded with the Indians within the line of the U.S. 3) He had engaged
500 Indians & more to join him to come & take the garrison &
village of P.D.C. 4) He was come a spy into the U.S. 5) He had furs
and peltry coming down the River St.Peter which was contrary to law &
of course were forfeited to Congress of the U.S..." A letter written by
Dickson (18 jun.1818) at Green Bay reaches Mackinac saying, "...he had
been discharged very honorably by Gov.Clarke & he was waiting at Green
bay for the arrival of his family which was daily expected & then he
should be at Mackinaw - He added that O.Fallon was dismissed from being
Intendant of Indians & Col.Chambers was ordered to attend at Washington..."
Fort Snelling was established at the mouth
of the Minnesota River and a couple of years later Lawerence Taliaferro,
the Indian agent at the new fort writes to Benjamin of Sacs & Fox attacking
Southern Yancton near O'Fallon and Sisseton/Wahpacoota near the Blue Earth.
Total of 60 Sioux killed & 12 prisoners - Taliaferro rescued a woman
(Yankton) prisoner at Fox village near the lead mines. She was at agency
awaiting the Sissetons & Northern Yankton arrival. The Sac were claiming
11 prisoners at their village on the des Moines R.- they are attempting
to possess the hunting grounds of the River Des Moines to it's source.
Council Bluff (Lewis & Clark held council
with the Oto and Missouri Indians on August 3, 1804, which gave the locale
its name of "Council Bluff) was the site of the Upper Missouri Indian Agency,
with headquarters at Fort Atkinson. The agency was managed by Benjamin
O'Fallon and sub-agent John Dougherty. O'Fallon arranged for a delegation
of Mexicans to visit the Council Bluff in September 1824 to conclude
a peace treaty with the Pawnee and in 1825 he visited the tribes along
the Missouri and Platte with General Henry Atkinson to negotiate a hands-off
agreement for Americans traveling to Sante Fe. Benjamin was present at
the treaty "...between the United States and their citizens, and the Teton,
Yancton, and Yanctonies bands of the Sioux tribe of Indians, the President
of the United States of America, by Brigadier-General Henry Atkinson, of
the United States army, and Major Benjamin O'Fallon, Indian Agent,...Done
at Fort Look-out, near the three rivers of the Sioux pass, this 22d day
of June, A.D. 1825,..." [also present were: Maw-too-an-be-kin (the Black
Bear), Wacan-o-hi-gnan (the Flying Medicine), Wah-ha-ginga (the Little
Dish), Cha-pon-ka (the Musqueto), Ta-tan-ka-guenish-qui-gnan (the Mad
Buffalo), A. L. Langham, secretary to the commission, H. Leavenworth, colonel,
U. S. Army, S. W. Kearney, brevet major, First Infantry, G. H. Kennerly,
U. S. S. Indian agent, P. Wilson, U. S. S. Indian agent, Wm. Armstrong,
captain, Sixth Regiment Infantry, Wm. Gordon & Jean
Baptiste Dorion, Interpreters].
Benjamin was one of the principal partners
the Missouri Fur Company, headed by Dr. Pilcher and at the same time one
of the most efficient United States Agents for Indian Affairs. He was largely
instrumental in bringing about the treaties between the U.S. Government
and the various Indian tribes to the west & north of St. Louis. Benjamin
and his brother John are mentioned as St.Louis slave owners, in the
"Narrative of William W. Brown, an American Slave".
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