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."