Editing Arrowsmith, Illinois (section)

===Founding of Arrowsmith===
Arrowsmith was laid out on December 7, 1871, by Charles W. Holder (1808–1887) and Owen T. Reeves (1829- ?).<ref>''Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McLean County, Illinois'' (Chicago: Munsell, 1908) p.902.</ref> The founders kept their identities hidden for two years until the plat was officially recorded.<ref>''History of McLean County, Illinois'' (Chicago: LeBaron, 1879)  pp. 678-679.</ref> Both proprietors lived in Bloomington, were experienced land dealers, and were involved in the creation of  the [[LaFayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad|Lafayette Bloomington and Muncie Railroad]]. Holder had been Jesse Fell's partner in the founding of [[Towanda, Illinois]], was one of his partners in the development of [[Normal, Illinois]], and the town of [[Holder, Illinois]], would soon be named in his honor. Reeves was a Bloomington lawyer and judge who had been colonel of the short-lived 70th Illinois Infantry during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Arrowsmith Township had voted $30,000 in bonds to support the construction of the railroad on the condition that a station be established in their township. It was at first thought that the name of the town would be Weldon, but it was soon learned that this name had been taken by a newly founded town in [[DeWitt County, Illinois|DeWitt County]]. Arrowsmith takes its name from the township in which it was located, which had been named for early settler Ezekiel Arrowsmith. Several of the first buildings in Arrowsmith were moved to the new town from Senex, located about three miles to the southwest near the edge of Old Town Timber. Taking advantage of cold weather, John Thompson had used 32 horses to skid his store from Senex to Arrowsmith in just over two hours. The Senex blacksmith shop and the post office were moved in the same year. However, most of the buildings in the new town were newly constructed, and many of the early merchants were from places other than Senex.<ref>William D. Walters, Jr. "Town-Making in Eastern McLean County: A Geographic Microstudy", ''Bulletin of the Illinois Geographical Society'' (Fall 1998) LX:2, pp. 30-31.</ref>