1857

Washington was officially incorporated as a town on February 10, 1857.  The newly incorporated village's first officers were trustees John L. Marsh, Dr. Robert Wilson, James Smith, Daniel L. Miles, & Jacob Sonneman, with Marsh elected President.  Also elected were Thomas Cress as Constable, Asa Danforth as Treasurer, Thomas Fish as Street Commissioner, and Richard C. Dement as Clerk.

It was reported in 1857 that a man named Van Meter was loading up wagon loads of homeless children on the East Coast and selling them here for anywhere from $15-$50.  The problem occurred when the purchaser of said children was unhappy with the purchase and turned them loose like animals.  There were thousands of homeless children in large cities on the East Coast in the 1850s, leading to the short-lived existence of "orphan trains" to the west.

1857 also saw Washington bid to be the home of the new Illinois State University.

The Prairie State Bank closed its doors in March after over two years in business.

In 1857 Washington gained its first newspaper with any real traction.  Amos Couch and Albert Parker started the Washington Investigator.  Parker would not last long, and Couch would run the paper by himself for most of its tenure.  The newspaper's motto was "Substance, not Shadow - Change - Progressive Steps on the Highway of Knowledge."  The Investigator was a simple 18x24 newspaper of four pages, with mainly advertising and articles from back east.

In the Investigator's last issue, dated March 3, 1859, Couch writes:

"We have few words to say to our friends at this time.  This number closed the second volume of the Washington Investigator.  Two years ago, we commenced the publication of our paper; it was an untried experience on the part of the community as well as on our part...We feel a desire for relaxation and adopt the close of the volume as the most appropriate occasion.  How long the interregnum may intervene we are not prepared to say.  It may be longer or shorter; depending on the events that have yet to transpire.  We shall however, resume our labors as soon as we can do so with justice to ourself..."

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