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In 1855, Benjamin Tobias began the trade of plow manufacturing on the square, constructing the brick building on Walnut Street, which still exists today.
On October 11, 1855, the Peoria & Oquakwa Railroad completed its eastern branch from the Illinois River to Washington.
Jonathan Harvey Rowell attended Eureka College and, during one winter around 1855, taught approximately 80 students in Washington. "He spent a winter while in college teaching in Washington, Tazewell County. His enthusiasm as a teacher was remarkable. During this winter he went voluntarily to school before school time in the morning, devoted half the noon hour and after four until dark in hearing special classes in higher algebra studies, and took eight or nine of those pupils back to college with him." Rowell was eventually elected to the United States Congress and served there from 1883-1891.
On July 10, 1855, the house at 500 Maple St. was sold to the Washington School District and used as an east-side one-room school until 1877, when the Spruce St. school was built.
The Prairie State Bank of Washington began business operations.
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