1850
The 1850 U.S. Federal Census lists Washington as having a population of 712 residents.
Taken from 1929 Early History of Washington, Illinois:
William Holland gave a 4th of July dinner in the year 1850 in a fine grove where the Henry Denhart home now stands. He erected long tables and bought muslin for table cloths. The citizens did not wish for him to bear all of the expense, and they formed a procession in the square and marched to the grounds. As they passed his shop, which was south of the grove, they passed through a gate. Mr. Holland's little daughter, Esther Ann, about 10 years old, held her little apron to catch the coins of a free will offering from the dinner guests. Mrs. Holland, son William and Hamilton Riddle, a son-in-law, did all of the cooking for the big dinner.
In 1850, Gideon Hawley apparently built a fence across a road in Tazewell County, Illinois. Coleman Gibson and others, road supervisors for Tazewell County, sued Hawley to recover the penalty for continuing to obstruct the road. The Justice of the Peace ruled for Gibson and others and awarded $117.87 in damages. Hawley retained Abraham Lincoln and appealed the judgment to the circuit court. Gibson and others later dismissed the case. Lincoln received $50 for his legal services in this and four other cases for Hawley regarding this issue.
James Blackburn and Jacob Kern were business partners. They mutually agreed to dissolve their partnership, which was in debt. Blackburn bought out Kern's share and verbally agreed to give Kern a town lot as payment. James Blackburn died intestate, and the court appointed Jacob Kern as administrator of Blackburn's estate and appointed James Kern as guardian of John Blackburn, James Blackburn's sole heir. James Kern charged that Jacob Kern, as administrator and former partner, was selling James Blackburn's goods and using the money for his own use. James Kern also claimed Jacob Kern, as administrator for John Kern, who was also John Blackburn's grandfather, did not pay John Blackburn his full share of John Kern's estate settlement. James Kern sued Jacob Kern in chancery. Abraham Lincoln amended the decree by which the court appointed an auditor to investigate the matter and report to the court. The parties reached a settlement before the auditor finished his investigation, and the court dismissed the case.
The first meeting of the Masonic Lodge in Washington (now the Taylor Lodge) is held.