St. Charles in St. Charles County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Circa 1871

714 N. Benton

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 20, 2024

1. Circa 1871 Marker

Inscription.

Circa 1871. 714 N. Benton. 1830 – Block 9 of Nathan Boone's survey of the Common ground of St. Charles. Nathan was the son of Daniel Boone. , 1837 – Part of Dr. Andrew Wilson's 999-year lease of part of the Commons of St. Charles -Clark to Morgan and 5th to 6th Street. , 1866 – Joseph Platte became a citizen serving as a soldier in the Civil War for the Union. , 1870 – Joseph Platte and his wife Mary purchased this lot from Andrew Wilson's widow. , 1871 – The north half of this house was built and occupied. The house is a side-gabled, sun-dried brick house designed in the Federal style. , This first section's known as a half house. It was two rooms deep with a loft on the second floor. Details include fan-shaped window lintels, transformed doors, unique chimneys and chimney placement and the brick dentil work along the roof line. The house became a two door house when the second half was built. The two doors were for air circulation. The house was never a duplex. It has one set of interior stairs. Note! Window lintels different on the 1st and 2nd halves. , 1876 – The census lists Joseph Platte, his wife Mary, Mary Jr., Henry, John, August, Sophia and Bernard, their children, living at this address, plus one cow and four hogs. Joseph Platte operated a sun-dried brick yard on Fourth Street between Morgan and Montgomery Streets. His sons worked at the brick yard. , His son Henry, who had a beautiful home on 5th Street, built a building on the corner of 2nd and Baird in Frenchtown and in partnership with a Mr. Eringer ran a grocery and general merchandise business. John Platte, after apprenticing as a carpenter, became a well-known St. Charles architect/contractor. He worked on the St. Peter's hall and old school. He built other churches in Monroe, Flint Hill, Lindsey, Texas and the convent in O'Fallon. He pioneered cement blocks as a building material and built several homes here with this material. , 1955 – The Platte House remained in the family through 1955, a total of 85 years of single family ownership.

1830 – Block 9 of Nathan Boone's survey of the Common ground of St. Charles. Nathan was the son of Daniel Boone.

1837 – Part of Dr. Andrew Wilson's 999-year lease of part of the Commons of St. Charles -Clark to Morgan and 5th to 6th Street.

1866 – Joseph Platte became a citizen serving as a soldier in the Civil War for the Union.

1870 – Joseph Platte and his wife Mary purchased this lot from Andrew Wilson's widow.

1871 – The north half of this house was built and occupied. The house is a side-gabled, sun-dried brick house designed in the Federal style.

This first section's known as a half house. It was two rooms deep with a loft on the second floor. Details include fan-shaped window lintels, transformed doors, unique chimneys and chimney placement and the brick dentil work along the roof line. The house became a two door house when the second half was built. The two doors were for air circulation. The house was never a duplex. It has one set of interior stairs. Note! Window lintels different on the 1st and 2nd halves.

1876 – The census lists Joseph Platte, his wife Mary, Mary Jr., Henry, John, August, Sophia and Bernard, their children, living at this address, plus one cow and four hogs. Joseph Platte operated a sun-dried brick

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yard on Fourth Street between Morgan and Montgomery Streets. His sons worked at the brick yard.

His son Henry, who had a beautiful home on 5th Street, built a building on the corner of 2nd and Baird in Frenchtown and in partnership with a Mr. Eringer ran a grocery and general merchandise business. John Platte, after apprenticing as a carpenter, became a well-known St. Charles architect/contractor. He worked on the St. Peter's hall and old school. He built other churches in Monroe, Flint Hill, Lindsey, Texas and the convent in O'Fallon. He pioneered cement blocks as a building material and built several homes here with this material.

1955 – The Platte House remained in the family through 1955, a total of 85 years of single family ownership.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 38° 47.336′ N, 90° 29.048′ W. Marker is in St. Charles, Missouri, in St. Charles County. It is on North Benton Avenue south of Franklin Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 714 N Benton Ave, Saint Charles MO 63301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor

and in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 20, 2024

2. Circa 1871 Marker

of this marker: 1870 (a few steps from this marker); Circa 1891 (a few steps from this marker); Circa 1888 (within shouting distance of this marker); Circa 1880 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Circa 1871 (within shouting distance of this marker); Circa 1890 (within shouting distance of this marker); Circa 1900 (within shouting distance of this marker); 1892 (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in St. Charles.

Also see . . . Commons Neighborhood Historic District. National Register of Historic Places Registration Form (Submitted on August 20, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 31, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 20, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.