Born in Ireland, O’Flaherty arrived in St. Louis in 1825, where he started a boat store, a wholesale grocery & a commission house. In 1844 he married Eliza Faris, member of an old Creole family. They were the parents of writer Kate Chopin. O’Flaherty was one of the founders of the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In November 1855, the railroad opened the St. Louis-Jefferson City part of its route. O’Flaherty was on the inaugural train. When the train came to the Gasconade River, the bridge collapsed & O’Flaherty was one of the 29 killed. (bio by: Connie Nisinger)  Family links:  Spouse:  Eliza Faris O’Flaherty (1828 – 1885)*  Children:  Kate Chopin (1851 – 1904)* *Calculated relationship