(GPS Coordinates: Latitude:
37.21560, Longitude: 81.42810)
Directions to Mathena family
cemetery, Tip Top, Va., Tazewell County.
Driving from Bluefield, VA/WV take
route 19/460 west towards Tazewell, Va.
About midway between Bluefield and
Tazewell turn right (north) on Bailey Switch Road (Road
Number 656). This is the intersection of 19/460 and 656.
Drive about 1.3 miles and turn left on 650 at the Bailey
Switch Church. From the Bailey Switch Church, drive on
650 west about 2.9 miles and look for a gravel/dirt road
that turns to the right. Take this right turn, it goes
slightly uphill and crosses the railroad track about
100-150 feet away from the asphalt road (650).
Drive across the railroad tracks
and take the gravel/dirt road to the left. Follow this
gravel/dirt road to the site of the old Mathena home
place. As of June 2013, there were two mobile homes
located there. The first mobile home site on the left is
the site of the original John Wilson Mathena home place.
Continue on until you come to a second mobile home on
the left.
Near the second mobile home
location is probably the best place to park and walk to
the Mathena family cemetery. The cemetery is located on
the hill to the right of the second mobile home. In the
summer there are a lot of briers and thick brush to walk
through. Dress appropriately and be alert to tripping
hazards or possible snakes to in the cemetery area. Be
careful. The distance from the second mobile home to the
cemetery is approximately 250-300 feet.
The Mathena home place was
destroyed by fire about 1994. This site was settled by
the John Wilson Matheny family about 1860. He built a
two room cabin here and his son, Stephen Paris Mathena
years later added more rooms and a second floor to the
cabin..
Jim Mathena,
