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O'Fallon O’Fallon’s
history began with Arnold Krekel, a German immigrant, who lived in St.
Charles. Krekel founded a German-language newspaper, the St. Charles
Democrat, served as a U.S. District Court Judge and Missouri state
legislator. In 1854, Judge Krekel granted the North Missouri Railroad
permission to build a depot on his property along with a right-of-way on his
"Krekel Addition". When the railroad came through, he named the
depot O’Fallon Station after John O’Fallon, the railroad’s first
director and a popular St. Louis businessman and philanthropist. Arnold Krekel never
lived in O’Fallon. Nicholas Krekel, Arnold’s younger brother by ten
years and considered O’Fallon’s first citizen, surveyed and platted the
town, built the first house and store in 1856 (which is still standing,) and
in 1857 became the first postmaster and stationmaster of the O’Fallon
depot. In 1850, the town was renamed O'Fallon. After the Civil War
started much of the fighting occurred in Missouri. In 1861 nearly half of
the recorded engagements occurred in the state. Seeking to protect their
property a Union regiment was formed consisting of German immigrants led by
Lt. Col Arnold Krekel. These men successfully defended the North Missouri
Railroad, which was a popular target of Confederate guerillas. The town flourished as
a shipping point on the railroad for farmers in the area as they could
produce a surplus and be assured that it would reach market. The railroad
also encouraged the establishment of retail business as the railroad could
now bring in manufactured products. According to a pamphlet published by the
North Missouri Railroad in 1870 O’Fallon “has a population of about 100.
It has two dry goods and a grocery store, a hotel, boarding house, steam
flourmill, brickyard, broom factory, depot and stockyard, post office and
express office.” |
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