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1959 Map of Bear Branch

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Bear Branch
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Laughery Creek carves a deep, serpentine path through southeastern Indiana, defining the boundary between several townships including Caesar Creek and Pike. This survey, reflecting the landscape in the late 1950s, documents a rural agricultural region where small settlements like Farmers Retreat and Milton serve as local anchors. The map reveals a tight-knit community structure, often organized around spiritual and educational centers such as St Johns Ch, Olive Branch Ch, and the Freedom Sch.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific family and local history markers, from the isolated Rand Cem on a ridge above the creek to Mt Hebron Cem near a sharp bend in the water. The intricate topography of Mexico Ridge and Sangamaw Ridge is detailed alongside early infrastructure like the Lost Bridge and a Gaging Station on the creek. The map serves as a primary record of the rural crossroads and small-scale creek crossings that once linked these Dearborn, Ohio, and Switzerland County communities.