The Entrepreneurs

In 1886 the Nappanee Milling Company was established by the Coppes Brothers, John, Sam, and Frank. In the 1890s, the Coppes Brothers made all of Dr. Miles shipping boxes. Albert and Charles Mutschler joined Coppes Brothers in 1902 and operated a table factory near the box factory. The combined operations of the flour mill, sawmill, and furniture factory became Coppes, Zook & Mutschler Co. Daniel and Harold Zook managed the flour mill division, Albert and Charles Mutschler managed the furniture division. The furniture line was known as the “Napanee Line” until 1914. In 1914, Coppes Brothers began the exclusive manufacture of kitchen cabinets.