John Fletcher Darby was born in Person County, North Carolina, in 1803. He came with his parents in 1818 to Bonhomme Township in St. Louis County, where his father established a farm. John F. Darby attended college in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where he studied the classics. In 1825, he moved to Frankfurt, Kentucky, where he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He soon returned to St. Louis where he practiced law and engaged in banking. Involved in Whig politics, Darby served as Mayor of St. Louis for four one-year terms between 1835 and 1841, Missouri State Senator (1838), and United States Congressman (1851-1853). In 1836, Darby married Mary Wilkinson. She was born at Old Mines, Washington County, on June 21, 1818. Mary was educated at a convent school near Perryville. Her paternal great-uncle was General James Wilkinson, appointed by President Jefferson to replace Don Carlos Delassus as governor of Upper Louisiana. Her mother was Emelie Valle of Ste. Genevieve, daughter of Francois Valle, commandant at Ste. Genevieve when the area was transferred to the United States. Her great-great-grandfather, Francis Valle, was commandant of Fort Chartres. Mary Darby died on July 18, 1875, at age 58. The Darbys had at least six children: Mary, Julia, Caswell, Benjamin, Edwin, and Walter. Mary and Julia both married, and Julia moved to Atlanta. Caswell lived various places in the west. Benjamin studied at Seton Hall, went into banking, and died in his 20s. Edwin was a prisoner of war during the Civil War. Walter lived for a period in Missoula, Montana. He donated many items that belonged to John Darby to the Missouri Historical Society. Darby corresponded with various relatives, including several in North Carolina and various places in Missouri. A niece, Missouri Collins Lysaght, lived in St. Joseph, Missouri. She was a frequent visitor and correspondent of Darby. As Mayor, Darby was active in establishing public parks and improving law enforcement in St. Louis. He supported public education. Darby’s career in Congress was apparently shortened by a paralyzing injury, from which he recovered. He was one of the founders of the Boatmen’s Savings Association and of Bellefontaine Cemetery. He was interested in the railroad business, in sunken vessels and the possible recovery of their cargo, and in mining. John Darby wrote many “sketches” of people he had known. These were frequently published in various newspapers in Missouri. In 1880, Darby published Personal of John F. Darby. His book consists of about twenty formal “sketches” and numerous anecdotes of men and women who figured in St. Louis and Missouri history from 1820 to about 1850. In addition to practicing law, Darby engaged in banking in St. Louis. One bank was known as Darby and Barksdale. One of his banks closed, probably failed, in 1869. At one point, Darby owned approximately 56,000 acres in various locations, probably primarily in Missouri. He said that at the time he was elected to Congress he had houses and lots worth at least $1,000,000, and that he had a yearly income from rentals of $45,000-$50,000. However, as a result of the Civil War, he lost $700,000, and went into bankruptcy. His children felt that he had been “robbed” by men named Knox and Tiffany. There is a U.S. Supreme Court case concerning one issue in the bankruptcy proceedings. Darby died in Warren County at the home of one of his daughters in 1882. His funeral was held in St. Louis, and he is buried in Calvary Cemetery.