This township was settled in early times. Among the early settlers may be named, viz: Shadrick Worrall, Harvey Lewellen, Morgan Keltner, Mr. Vest, Mr. Luther, A. H. Beadle, Lot Loving, C. and E. Thurman, W. H. Foster, Ed. McKenzie, W. C. Shockly, Amos Simmons, Henry and Cyrus Simmons, John BRACKEN, G. H. Crossley, I. H. Rees, W. J. Graham, Mr. — Walker, Mr. G. Scott, Calvary Ross, Mr. S. Coffelt, S. M. Corey, W. W. Spring, Mr. —Eastlick.
The first frame school house built in the county, as claimed, was located in the northeast corner of section 1, township 82, range 24, and was the renowned "Walnut Grove School House," built in 1854—5.
Washington Township has three towns: Ames, Kelley and New Philadelphia.
At the last named town there is but little doing. It was laid out in 1856.
Kelley is a small town but has life about it, and is in the midst of a good country. It is situated on the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 32, was laid off in 1875.
The town "Collegeton," was laid off in 1863 but was not recorded. It would have been recorded if the railroad had been located on the south line of the Agricultural farm. Mr. W. J. Graham, who had worked so faithfully for the location of the farm felt pretty sure of the final location of the road on the south line of the farm—so sure I surveyed the town for him. He offered the Railroad Company sixteen or twenty acres of ground free for depot grounds in case of its location on said south line. Mr. W. W. Walker and others examined, with care, this route, but it was finally rejected. Had it been located on said line Ames would not have been laid off, but it would have been Graham's Town—"Collegeton." This Collegeton was on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9, and directly south of the College building and not eighty rods distant.
There are several branches beside Skunk River, (Chicaqua,) that pass through parts of the township: Squaw Fork, Worrall Branch, Walnut Creek, Luther Branch, (and not Clear Creek). Luther Creek was its original name and not Clear Creek. The Clear Creek of Story County is in Collins Township. In early times there was a Mr. Luther living on or near this creek, and in Luther Grove. For groves see the index "Groves." This Luther Creek enters the township east of the northwest corner of section 6, passing through 6, to a point near the northwest quarter section corner of section 6, then southeasterly through section 6, and then easterly through section 5, and then northeasterly through the northwest quarter of section 4, and empties into Squaw Fork some forty or fifty rods north of the north quarter section corner of section 3.