 The first plant built by the Wisconsin Chair Co. became the largest employer in the area, providing work for one-sixth of the Ozaukee County work force.Its presence was most likely the chief reason that the city's Port Washington population increased from 1,659 in 1890 to more than 3,000 by 1900.Surviving its first financially difficult years, the Chair company suffered its worst blow in 1899 when it was totally leveled by fire.