Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-01-12
NAPOLEON.
A Review of Her Industries
and Business Interests Gen
orally.
Her Advantages as a Trading
Point and for the Location
of Manufacturing
Concerns.

LEOul OtneI tOWuS III all pdIts Vi VIC Oouhii "
and so much has been said that is based only
upon their desires or their imaginations, that
it is difficult for place that confines itself
to the truth to command the attention it de-
serves. For this reason the straightforward
business like reports that have gone out from
Mar oleon, have carried with them less weight
than they would otherwise have done. Not
only that, but the richness of the natural gifts
and her other advantages are SO incredible
to those of less favored towns, that this
paradox is presented-the more truthful the
description the less credence it receives. 1t
seems impossible for people lacking these
advantages to realize that others can be so
al,undantly favored by nature and otherwise.
1t is with thorough understanding of
these difficulties in securing an impartial
hearing, that the NORTHWEST undertakes to
present the simple truth concerning this
beautiful village and her attractions. As
Napoleon, in speaking of herself, has hither
to been content to confne herself to the
absolute truth, so now, as then, she asks only
a candid consideration of the facts them
selves.
The County.
Anybody who knows anything about Ohio,
knows that Henry County stands among the
first in the State. The Maumee river running
through the central portion of the county
gives it river bottom of many miles in ex-
tent, which, with the back lands well drain
ed, gives it soil surpassed nowhere in this
or the adjacent States. While in its products
it vies with the best for the foremost rank in
the State.
The spirit that animates its peopleis shown
by the many miles of good roads running
into the county seat; in its mile after mile of
public bitches, and in its hundreds of miles
of underdrainage, as we'll as in its magnii-
cent public buildings.
The County Seat.
Napoleon, although not in the exact geo.
graphical center of Henry county, is,
practically speaking, the commercial center
of a great portion of Northwestern Ohio
many farmers from other counties coming
here to trade.
The first settlement of the town, as near as
one can learn, was about the year 1890. Ma
poleon's first court house was erected in 1886
built of logs. The Miami and Erie Cana
which runs through our town, was completed
in 1874. This gives us water communication
with Toledo, Cincinnati and all intermediate
points The Wabash, st. Louis & Pacific
railroad was built in 1866. This is the mair
line of the "Wabash," and gives us direc
line to all places east and west, and with it!
splendid connections to all points of the
compas.
Notwithstanding all these improvements
and advantages, the growth of Napoleon
was very slow for number of years-unti
the late civil war. During this great nationa
event the town seemed to take on new life
But it was not until after the close of thu
war that the growth and development of thu
place was very marked About the year 1856
the population of Napoleon began to increas,
very rapidly, new business houses wer
erected, manufacturing concerns were pu
into operation, and the future of the villag
looked very bright indeed. We have not hat
clear sailing, however. In 1869, when every
thing was prosperous, when our citizens whc
had risked all their capital in the various
mercantile enterprises of the place wert
about out of debt and beginning to look tt
an easy future, the town was devastated b,
fire. This conhagration, which has since
been referred to as "the big fire." destroyed
nearly an entire block of buildings, the los
being over 100000. And again in 1877!
another disastrous fire fell upon us, entail
ing a loss of about 100000. This fir
one entire block of business houses. Witt
the energy SO characteristic of our citizen
the burnt districts were promptly rebuilt
the places of the old buildings being fillet
with larger, handsomer and more substantial
ones, and to-day finds Napoleon one of tn
most solidly built, one of the most substan
tial and prosperous, and one of the mos
solid, financially speaking, of any place il
this portion of the State.
0ur toun uas vilIopo !,
1868, and now has population of abou
5000 souls. She is an active business center
and is one of the handsomest villages of he
size in the country. Her social and com
mercial advantages are not so thorough
understood as are those of less importan
towns, but they can not be we'll over rated
With fine churches, fine schools, fine build
ings, both public and private, and excellen
streets, it will be seen that Napoleon mus
be beautiful place, and when the fact
added that it is inhabited by an intelligent
law-abiding, prosperous, healthy and happ
people, it is apparent that her social advan
tages are of high order. "God made tn
country and man made the town" is onl
partly true as applied to Napoleon. Whil
man has exerted himself to beautify thi
village, much that he has accomplishe,
would have been impossible if beneficien
providence had not seen fit to endow it wit
initiate. Situated on the banks of tn
beautiful Maumee river, its location TO
healthfulness could not be improved upon
The sewerage problem, which troubles s.
many towns, is solved in Napoleon by he
natural slope riverwards, and her system O
drainage is highly satisfactory one. He
broad streets, shady and pleasant walks, an
the beauty of the surroundings are remarks
by all visitors, while the residence portion O
the town is source of pride and satisfaction
to all.
j Public Improvements.
During the past few years there have bee
quite number of fine dwellings erected il
Napoleon which would be credit to an
metropolitan center. The business build
ings are of solid and substantial style O
architecture, several of which were bull
during the last few years, and are character
istic of the men who devised them. W
have court house, sheriff's residence an
jail, completed in 1881 at a cost of $4,000
which are among the finest structures O
their kind in any similar county in the State
We have two school buildings, one being
large elegant brick, with mansard roof, fou
stories and basement This building wa
erected in 1870, and cost $4,000, Our cit
building is three story brick, contains tn
council chamber and city offices, the stean
| fire engine, hook and ladder truck, hose rec
and other paraphernalia belonging to tn
| fire department. The Catholic denomination
in 1883 erected very handsome churcl
edifce. which is the finest and best in thi
| locality.