Locke
Locke was platted December 20, 1865, and there were 47 lots laid out along with six streets. The 1881 Chapman's History of Elkhart County was the last to treat Locke as a village. It had a variety of stores including three dry good stores, a grocery store, two sawmills, forty dwellings, a hotel, three doctors, and many other businesses including a school. The population in 1870 was 167, and by 1873 had grown to 200. By 1905, twenty-five to thirty people and a small store were left in Locke. Today only second-generation homes and buildings are in Locke.
W.H. Best and Sons Meat Market
The building was originally built in Locke and was moved to Nappanee when people, businesses, and homes were migrating to Nappanee. It was a Meat Market at one time. It was owned by William Henry Best and his sons Otis and Wilbur. The market was equipped with steam power and meeting cutting machine of the best make and they manufactured bologna, fresh sausage, and everything known to the meat trade, including tons of lard every season.We do know that the building that was known as Locke Station was turned into a meat market for Stoner and Martin. It looks very much like the picture of the Eby's store in a composite drawing that appeared in the 1874 Elkhart County Atlas. A mystery remains about the Eby brothers and if they fully moved to Nappanee. In the November 18, 1875 Goshen Democrat, it mentioned that George and Henry Eby were still leading businessmen of Locke and had a dry goods, hardware, clothing, and grocery store. They also conducted the flour mill in Locke. In 1883, Henry and George would offer to move their flour mill to Nappanee. They proposed that if Nappanee donated $1000, the Locke Mill would move to Nappanee repaired, fitted up, and made capable of turning out flour by the latest improved methods. By 1885 though Nappanee was asking for subscriptions to build their own mill.
Locke Building
This building was built in Locke and moved to Nappanee. A.T. Hostetler moved a building in 1875 from Locke to Nappanee and it became a dry goods store and it was run by Mr. J.C. Bailey. It was said to be the first dry goods store in Nappanee. Henry Eby was said to run the first store in Nappanee out of Locke Station and James Lake was said to run the second store. Some men who also came from Locke to Nappanee: Jacob Hemminger moved to Locke in 1868. He was a custom boot and shoemaker. He had been the postmaster in Locke for seventeen months delaying his move to Nappanee. In 1878, Jacob moved his business to Nappanee and his shop was east of the jewelry store that was on the corner of Main and Market Streets. A fun fact, his mother's maiden name was Shoe. John B. Peddycord served as Nappanee's postmaster from 1875-1883 when he died. He came to Nappanee soon after it was established. As postmaster, he also carried a small stock of candies, cigars, and stationary.
B&B Restaurant
Originally built in Locke and moved to Nappanee, the building was torn down in 1963 when the B&B remodeled. The B&B opened in 1926.One can speculate what was in this building. It may have been William Miller’s tin shop. He had gone to Locke and purchased John Blessing’s tinner tools. William Miller also shared a building with Enos Newcomer at one point. It was here on the corner. When all this was happening, Mr. Simons moved his grocery store to north Main Street from Locke. In 1881, it was thought that a young gentleman was in Locke selling whiskey on commission to other men in Locke. He had been purchasing it from Nappanee and then selling it in Locke. Around the same time as the gentlemen selling whiskey in Locke, a concerned citizen of Locke wrote into the newspaper asking why there was quite the number of gentlemen from Nappanee in Locke and wondered what they would want there. He wanted the gentlemen to explain themselves.
Nappanee
Nappanee was platted on December 12, 1874, by Daniel Metzler, John Culp, and Henry Stahly. This was just six days after the first train went through the area. Daniel Metzler and John Culp gave a total of five acres to the B&O Depot. Daniel also gave $15 since he only gave two acres of land while John Culp gave three acres. Nappanee had some stiff competition against other communities who were still trying to establish themselves.
E. Newcomer and Son Jewelry
Could the oldest family-owned jewelry store in the State of Indiana have started in Locke? We do know that the jewelry store started in Nappanee in 1880. The original site of the store was near the northeast corner of Main and Market Streets.Enos Newcomer was born in 1855 and resided on a farm until 1871. He purchased his stock from Mr. Stahly for $100. Enos was married to Emma Doering from Wakarusa. At one point, Mr. Newcomer had a partnership with one of his wife's relatives. They started in 1889 as an apprentice and later as a partner. The relative went on to open his own jewelry store in Wakarusa. Mr. Newcomer was a watchmaker and bench worker. He was also a carpenter. He helped build the original B&O Depot and the Napanee House (Nappanee’s first hotel). He thought $8 was too much to pay for a watch.
Walters Drugs
Jacob Walters came to Nappanee in 1881 and he brought not only his business with him from Locke but also his building. He started to move the building in June of that year and it is thought that his building may have gotten caught in the mud on the way to Nappanee. He started his drug business in Locke in 1876. Mr. Walters look upon Nappanee as a town with a future; a town where business could be carried on with greater profit than at Locke.Mr. Walters carried a large stock of goods and there was no lost space within his building. He also had a warehouse on the corner of Lincoln and Elm streets and handled lumber, shingles, lath, lime, plaster, and cement. He was active in the business until he retired in 1913. In 1907, the First National Bank was started with the offices in the drug store as they were building the bank that sits by the present-day Hunter's Hideaway. When the bank was finished, the bank business was taken to the new quarters. He also owned a lot of farmland. Mr. Walters was the owner of Florence Park. NorthWood High School sits where this farm/park was located. It was home to deer, elk and a buffalo. Many Nappanee citizens would go there to have picnics and to see the animals. The former Old Buffalo Inn is thought to be the original homestead of the farm/park.
The Name Nappanee
Nappanee is an Indian name meaning "much flour". Daniel Metzler, first, selected the name Shawnee but another town on the railroad already had the name. He also talked about Danville. At the same time, a Locke delegation was busy coming up with a name. George and Henry Eby and Tobias and John Hartman were among the delegation. They wanted the name "Locke Station". Daniel Metzler said no town name would have "station" at the end because they wanted people to stay. Locke had other intentions. Daniel says he had selected the name Nappanee from a book and only after choosing the name did he find out that George and Henry Eby were originally from Napanee, Ontario. There is a folklore story of how Daniel Metzler was being chased by 500 furious Indians through a forest and he came upon a clearing and there was an Indian maiden napping upon her knee. He thought to himself...Nap-on-knee. "Nappanee!" That's it!
Nappanee Depot Plaza
It all started when Locke was passed over by the Railroad. Business men of Locke recognized the need for railroad access. An agreement was reached between the B&O and Locke. Locke did some shady business, Locke promised to donate 5 acres and grade the side tracks so that a depot could be built. Locke didn't have the land so Locke Station was built on railroad property and opened December 6, 1874 6 days before Nappanee was platted. Locke used the depot to get people to Locke and out of Nappanee. August of 1875, the citizens of Nappanee agreed to give the B&O Railroad $1,000 to erect the original depot and in return the railroad would build a grain elevator, freight depot, stock yards, and a lumber dock. The people of Locke were ordered to remove theirs.
Hartman Brothers
At one time the Hartman Brothers general store was one of the biggest general stores in Elkhart County. It was owned and managed by brothers Jacob, John, and Tobias.The store originally started in Hepton in 1871 with Jacob and their other brother, Samuel. In 1873 the store transferred to Locke and in 1875 Samuel disposed of his interest in the store to his brother John and Tobias. In 1876 the brothers started doing business in Nappanee. It was not until 1879 that their entire stock and interests moved from Locke to Nappanee. Jacob and Tobias ran the Nappanee store and John had stayed in Locke. Jacob Hartman was devoted to the general supervision of the store. John Hartman was an ex-trustee of Locke Township and served as a Nappanee Trustee. He gave his attention to the sewing machine business. John also helped name the streets in Nappanee. Thanks to him we have both a John and Hartman Street. Tobias Hartman was "at home" in the grocery department and supervised the corps of efficient clerks.
First Home
The first home was build in Nappanee in 1875. New Paris had written into the Goshen Democrat claiming that Locke's description of Nappanee excited New Paris. C.D. Volkman was so excited that he tore down his steel plow manufacturing establishment and dwelling house and put them onto wagons and started for the new "Eldorado".
Drug Store
Imagine wooden buildings lining the streets. In 1875, Truex, Hartman, and Peddycord intended to build a block of stores on the southwest corner of Main Street as soon as the weather permitted.Will F. Peddycord started his drug business in 1883. He was one of the first residences in Nappanee. His brother in law David Binkley purchased the store from Mr. Peddycord in 1885. Mr. Peddycord was the first Justice of Peace in Nappanee and married the first couple in Nappanee. Mr. Binkley was the creator of Frazier’s Distemper Cure. It was a safe and sure cure for distemper, pinkeye, coughs, colds, influenza, and all other forms of contagious diseases to which horses are subject to. Mr. Binkley was a man of sterling character and good judgment and was highly respected. The remedy retailed at 50 cents and $1.00 per bottle. Mr. Binkley had a tragic end. He was driving on a public road in a road cart about one mile out from town, speeding his animal at a lively clip and while attempting to pass a team, his horse started to run away. He was unable to control the horse and was thrown from the vehicle with great force. The person whom Mr. Binkley had passed immediately went to his assistance and found him by the road-side, helpless. He requested to be placed on his side and that he might rest easier, and those were the last words spoken by him. Death was the result of internal injuries.
Nappanee and Locke Feud
The rivalry of Locke and Nappanee started in 1875 when people, businesses, and dwellings started to move to Nappanee. Nappanee and Locke would write into the local papers Goshen Times and Wakarusa Sun to complain about each other. This happened from 1875-1879. Locke started first and wrote under the name Occasional.Locke claimed that they couldn't find Nappanee on the map. Nappanee was platted in December 1874 so it was not included in the 1874 atlas. Nappanee responded that Occasional might as well have looked in the Webster's Dictionary for Nappanee. Nappanee also hoped that Occasional hadn't made himself sick or overtaxed himself trying to find Nappanee. Nappanee planned to celebrate and observe it as a general holiday once Locke found Nappanee.. Locke residents worked on making improvements to the town to attract more people. The streets were widened and were lighted by a system of gas lamps. There were supposed to be one lamp on each corner. Only 1 gas lamp was installed and it became a running joke with Nappanee. Things got headed really fast.Nappanee felt like Locke was in their way. Occasional was replaced by Trump Jr. He took up the club on Locke's behalf. He was also quickly to remind Nappanee of Locke's contributions. Trump Jr. concluded one of his articles with "Nappanee, shake. We are your father." Nappanee responded with saying that Locke was never asked to build the depot and that the Locke Horse Car Co. is one for the benefit of Locke.Rumors started to swirl that Henry Eby received orders to remove his depot. The Postmaster received his credentials and the new post office called Nappanee had been established. By 1879, the county newspapers stopped publicizing any further infighting between Locke and Nappanee. For Nappanee, they had won. For Locke, it was a matter of accepting what had been inevitable from the start. In 1908, the last Locke landmark was moved. Locke became "just a little hamlet by the side of the road."
