Nappanee was platted in 1874 on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line, and a sawmill that opened in 1873 produced ties for railroad construction. From 1902 to 1913, the Coppes and Mutschler brothers were partners in a lumber, milling, and furniture business that became a significant part of the local furniture industry. By 1919, Indiana's furniture industry ranked fourth in the nation. After the partnership ended, Coppes focused on kitchen cabinets and sideboards, the sawmill and flour mill, and Mutschler on manufactured tables and porcelain top kitchen tables. The Coppes and Mutschler families continued to manage the companies while adapting to changing times, until outside corporations acquired both companies in 1969 and ended local ownership.