1943 Map of Oaktown

About this map

The Wabash River forms the western boundary of this Knox County landscape, where the fertile bottomlands meet rising terrain to the east. Oaktown and Bruceville serve as primary hubs, connected by a network of rural roads and the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad. The map reveals a dense distribution of family-named cemeteries such as Ocheltree Cem, Threlkeld Cem, and Price Cem, providing critical touchpoints for genealogical research. Drainage systems like the Prairie Ditch and Illinois Eastern Ditch highlight the intensive agricultural management of the era. To the south, the landscape shifts toward the South Fork Maria Creek, where the Rod and Gun Club Lake and Cleveland Pond offer a look at local recreation spots amidst the farms and small settlements of Busseron and Emison.