Alson W. Stout, 1849–1939, was born in Oneco, Illinois. At 14, he began working at various jobs, including as a Monroe drug store employee, hemp field worker in Missouri, lumberjack, and he even floated railroad tie logs down the Colorado River and worked as a Texas cow-puncher. He finally settled on carpentry. Stout attended the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, then came to the Monticello area. In 1894, he married widow Elizabeth Barlow-Tone. In addition to more than 20 Monticello homes, he constructed the Stout building and for three years he operated a restaurant and ice cream parlor in it. His building was remodeled years ago and has since been occupied by the Voegeli Tire & Service and Jerry Kubly’s Tire & Service.