Arrowsmith Township History - McLean County Illinois Genealogy & History

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Arrowsmith Township History
McLean County, Illinois

(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

Arrowsmith Township was named by the Supervisors after Ezekiel Arrowsmith, who was the first Supervisor and one of the early settlers. It contains thirty-six sections, being a full Congressional township, and is known of record as Town 23 north, Range 5 east of the Third Principal Meridian. It is almost entirely prairie, having originally about one square mile of timber in Sections 31 and 32, where the eastern extremity of Old Town Timber lies along the line of Arrowsmith and West, giving to each a little patch of woodland, which was so highly prized by those who first commenced settlement here. There was in addition a small bunch on Section 24, " Smith's Grove." which hardly grew to the importance of being called timber-land.
[The History of McLean County, Illinois, Chicago: W. LeBaron Jr. & Co., 1879]

Much Indian history is connected with Arrowsmith township. Its name honors its first supervisor. Ezekial Arrowsmith. An old Indian town and burial ground are supposed to have existed in the township prior to white settlement. Jonathan Cheney and John Dawson first explored the vicinity, learned much of the Indian history and took up some of the land.
Near the source of the Sangamon river is a mound supposed to have been built by the Indians. Many relics of Indians have been found on the ground in section 24. Traces of old fortifications are also found. The McLean County Historical Society under Capt. J. H. Burnham made extensive explorations of the Indian sections and the site of the supposed Indian battle, either between two hostile tribes or between the Indians and a detachment of French soldiers sent out from Fort Chartres.
The township [has a population of] 900.
["Official souvenir program, McLean County Centennial, Aug. 27, 28, 30, 1930" by: McLean County Illinois Centennial Souvenir Program Committee, Harold Lang and Eugene Funk]

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