1953 Map of Matherville

About this map

Matherville and the surrounding townships of Preemption and Richland Grove appear here in a landscape defined by small-scale coal mining and agricultural settlement. The presence of the Coal Valley Mine and Gilchrist Mine indicates a legacy of resource extraction along the bluffs above the Edwards River. The map preserves the locations of numerous community hubs, from the Orangemans Hall and Center School to distinctive local landmarks like Lake Matherville. This area on the border of Rock Island and Mercer Counties is particularly well-documented for genealogists, featuring several burial sites including Farlows Grove Cemetery, Schoening Cemetery, and Friends Cemetery. Local transit is anchored by historic routes such as the Knoxville Road and Reynolds-Preemption Road, connecting the residential clusters of Sherrard and Boden.