Present-day Washington Township was originally known for its rich and fertile soil and rolling hills, perfect for its many apple and peach orchards. James Thorington was the first settler of record in February 1819. Asahel Bailey bought the first government land in 1821. William Austin Burt settled here in the 1820s and is best remembered for his inventions of a typewriting machine, a solar compass, and an equatorial compass. Pres. James Monroe signed the deed for the government land bought by Elon Andrus in 1821. In 1850, the number of farms in the township was 116, and 24 years later, in 1874, there were 196 farms with land under cultivation. Over the years, Washington Township has developed from a pioneering settlement into an upscale residential community that, remaining true to its roots, still boasts several orchards.