1913 Map of Colchester

About this map

The rolling prairies of West Central Illinois are deeply incised by Crooked Creek and its many tributaries, creating a landscape of agricultural plateaus and timbered ravines. In the years before World War I, this region was defined by a dense network of local institutions, with nearly every section of land supported by a named schoolhouse like the Shanghai School, Ragtown School, or Joe Duncan School. The Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad bisects the area, anchoring the primary settlements of Colchester, Tennessee, and Colmar. While agriculture dominated, the presence of the Reliance Mine and a nearby Clay Mine near Colchester points to the localized coal and clay extraction industries that once bolstered the local economy. Religious life is equally visible through landmarks such as Lamoine Chapel and Majorville Church, providing clear points of reference for genealogists tracing family roots across the county lines of Hancock and McDonough Counties.