Farmer and Trader Bank

PLAY AUDIO

The Farmer and Trader Bank was the first Nappanee Banking House. It was established in 1884 by Daniel Betchel and his sons Samuel and Henry.

In 1890, Samuel Coppes sold his interest in Coppes Brothers to Daniel Zook. In 1891, Samuel Coppes and his son Harvey purchased the bank and it remained a private bank. It became an institution on the purchase of the bank by the Coppes men.

At the start of the bank, Samuel served as President, John C. Mellinger (Samuel’s brother in law) was the cashier with Harvey serving as assistant cashier. John retired in 1895 and then Harvey became the cashier.

The original incorporators of the bank (1891) were Samuel, Harvey, Fred, John and Frank Coppes, George Freese’s sons, Noah Lehman, John Brown, Chas Mutschler, Harry Greene, F.E. Baker, and Anthony and B.F. Deahl.