About the year 1887 there was established in Napoleon a distinctively unique industry for the manufacture of boat oars, the founder and proprietor of which was one Mason Britton.
In the year 1869 the firm of Myerholtz & Brothers established a plant for the manufacture of brick and drain tile, locating their works on East Washington street.
The distilling of ardent spirits early engaged the attention of John H. Vocke of Napoleon and in 1866 he began operations by establishing a plant north of and near the canal.
The Heller-Aller Company, one of the largest and most influential concerns of the kind in the united States, was established in 1887 by Samuel M. Heller and Frederick Aller.
Until after the treaty of 1820, which terminated the Indian's right to the large area of territory known as northwestern Ohio, the spirit of adventure incident to permanent settlement was scarcely developed in the minds of white people contemplating perma
Napoleon was long dependent for its prosperity upon the products of the soil, but the advent of railway facilities has brought it into close touch with the larger cities and great markets of trade.
Among the leading industrial concerns of Napoleon is the large saw mill plant south of the Maumee river, operated by the Leonhart Brothers, the history of which dates from the year 1889.
The Morningstar Manufacturing Company was organized in 1892 by R. W. Cahill and A. B. Blank, who continued the business as a private enterprise until 1902, when the company was incorporated.
The Napoleon Agricultural Works and Hoop Factory was inaugurated in 1874 for the purpose of manufacturing reapers and mowers, but did not engage in that business.
The Napoleon Brewery was established in 1862 by a gentleman by the name of Kopp, who began business on a modest scale, but in due time gradually enlarged the capacity of his establishment to meet the growing demand for its product.
The Napoleon Pulp Plaster Company was incorporated in 1899, introducing to the market a material which was then unique, and which many prophesied would be a certain failure.
The Planing Mill, located on the south side of Front street, in one of the best parts of the city, was started in 1864 by John Thiesen and William Shepard.
The Silver Star Chemical Works is a comparatively recent enterprise devoted to the manufacturing and compounding of various kinds of patent medicines, toilet articles, fine perfumeries, etc.
Soon after the year 1850 the citizens of Napoleon began to consider the advisability of incorporating the village, the necessity of some kind of a municipal government having long been apparent.
NAPOLEON TOWNSHIP was organized in the spring of 1835 and contains an area of thirty-six square miles, including the space covered by the waters of the Maumee.