Written by Myrt Pierson

Rolling down brick paved North State in your new Reo, after a party at Allen Moore 's you would pass the neat brick homes of George Noecker, nephew of the noted doctor, Frank Mailander, clothier, and Carl S. Reed, attorney, facing the Moore properties.

The Mailander home, now owned by Charles Kelly, was built on the site of the second cabin in Monticello, home of James Martin. (James Martin's niece, great-grandmother of the late James Heath, camped on what is now the Forest Preserve Park before moving to Centerville.)

Then you would pass the Hutson home with its square pillared porch, erroneously labeled in one report as 1900's vintage. Actually, it was originally H.V. Moore's farm home and still boasts the original barn. It was built in 1875 and remodeled in 1917.

In the next block stood the fine frame home of James T. Vent, successful farmer and road commissioner. Distinguished by its broad porch and high balconied dormer, it was built in the early 1900s. It was occupied by Kirby Smith, Vent's son-in-law, after his death.

Smith was the son of W.E. Smith, the enterprising merchant. He was a farmer and also served as County Treasurer. This home in now owned by Donn Piatt, head of Burgess and Cline Insurance.

In the same block you would pass the home of lawyer, Harry Crea, built in the late 1800s. Crea, Master-in-Chancery and owning an abstract business, was the first real push behind the development of Pepsin Syrup. This house was purchased by James Hicks, who began his Monticello residence in 1864 as a store clerk, proceeding to brick making at a plant near the present Forest Preserve Park north of town. With son-in-law, Shepherd, Hicks contracted to build the Piatt-Bryden store, the W.H. Piatt residences, and the home of M. Bell in Bement. He served as postmaster for a time. The Crea house now belongs to Hicks' grand-daughter, Mrs. Max Platz.. This house is distinguished by its half round turret in front.

Across the street was the A.C. Thompson home, with its slit windows and double front door, now owned by Lindell Huisinga. Then you would pass the magnificent residence of the Hott family, with the gracious Mansfield (now Tracy) frame home across the street.

You might wave to the William Dighton's on the grounds of their half-timbered English mansion with its elaborate coachman?s garage, now owned by Lynne Meyer. Across the street at 719, Lou Burgess, farmer, son of the editor, built his handsome pillared and balconied home. His wife was Mary Dighton, twin to William. Lou and his son, William, were responsible for the development of many new and improved farming practices. This home remained in the Burgess family until recently when it was acquired by E.H. Thompson.

The family of Andrew Jackson Dighton wielded considerable influence in the history of Monticello and Piatt County. And the house next to the Burgess home was built for his widow, Sarah, by his son, William, as a retirement home in 1898.

The window of the man who once owned all the land from Lindell Huisinga's present home to the cemetery spent her last years here in the company of a son's widow. At her death, the house was bequeathed to daughter-in-law, Mary I. Dighton, and her son, Andrew, inherited it. It stands on an original James A, Piatt land grant, and the land changed hands a number of times before the lot was purchased by one Nathaniel Head for the handsome sum of $400, then conveyed to Sarah Dighton, before a house was erected on it. Lavishly trimmed with roof railings, "gingerbread", and dormers, it became the property of Robert A. Shonkwiler, attorney, about 1941. It remained so until quite recently it was sold to settle his estate.

Next on the right would be Albert T. England's fine frame home at 620. Impressively successful farmer and owner of 900 rich acres, he married Sheriff W.H. Plunk's daughter, Harriet. (The sheriff himself owned 400 acres of rich farmland). The house now is owned by Frances B. (Barney) Slevin. When the England's son, William Herbert, took himself a bride, his parents built the handsome brick house next door at 612 as a wedding gift. Nell Kirby England spent all her married life in this house until she used the estates of her husband and parents to endow the hospital. Her old home is now owned by Dr, J.F. Allman. Thomas Walsh owns the former home of the Kirby's across the street at 619.

Other homes on "Millionaire Row" were owned by people who figured largely in the history of the town and county, though most never made it into the financial big league.

Your Reo would roll unnoticingly past the Hegarty home at 517, with its wrap around porch, although daughter, Agatha, contributed much to the smooth operation of the Pepsin office. The Carl Cunninghams live there now. The Oehmke home at 517, although imposing, belonged to a common grocer. You would pay no attention to the Goeggle and Hetishee cottages, unless Frank Hetishee held the note on your Reo at the First National Bank. You would ignore the house at 412 in which Allen Moore once lived, but you might find it expedient to nod to Tom Kastel at 310, attorney and one time buggy maker.

If you really wished to cut a smart appearance, you would definitely give William Eshelman, tailor, a courtly greeting. The Eshleman's prim brick at 303 had just replaced the old frame belonging to William?s father, Wendell, also a tailor. The old house was moved to the rear and stood there until the city took over the land to expand the waterworks. For many years, William relaxed from his sewing by working in a lovely garden planted on the banks of the ditch running beside his home. The ditch was tiled and covered over several years ago. The house was sold to Judge Sarah Lumpp following the death of Mrs. Eshelman. The judge's family occupied it until a half dozen years ago, when it was acquired by Lawrence Trippiedi.

There are new homes, sprinkled along the "Row", some of them housing people who might fit the title, most of them still contributing to the story of a town which rose from the prairie, and isn't ready to give it back to the Indians, not yet.

The above article appeared in the Piatt County Journal Republican on Thursday, November 6, 1985