 When a post office opened on November 6, 1851, the village was named Napier, probably after Sir Charles James Napier (1782–1853), a British General, or perhaps after his brother, Sir William Francis Patrick Napier (1785–1860), also a general and historian of the Peninsular War.In 1857, J. G. Sutherland moved into the area, bought the mills from Johnston and built a new woollen mill.The village population at this time was about 150.