1945 Map of Bradford

About this map

Bradford serves as the central hub of this agricultural landscape at the intersection of Stark, Bureau, and Marshall counties. The mid-century rural character is defined by a dense network of country schools, including Pleasant Mound Sch and Logan Sch, located at nearly every section interval to serve the surrounding farmstead families. Transport is anchored by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy and Chicago and Northwestern railroads, which facilitated the movement of grain and livestock from settlements like Lombardville and Camp Grove. Numerous small family and community burial grounds, such as St Johns Cem and Eagleston Cem, are preserved across the townships. The drainage of the land is visible through the winding courses of Spoon River and Senachwine Creek, which carve through the prairie to define the local topography and historical property lines.