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!