This book has no cover, and no index, and no author. I bought it on Ebay; it just has the insides, but it is full of Indiana biographies. I am not researching this family, just thought I would share. I do not know anymore about these families or these surnames. NOTE: I don’t know if there is any additional mention of this family in the book, it has no index. I do not want to sell this book. I am typing the biographies from it. Typed by Lora Radiches: Surnames in this biography: Pripps, Welter, Allen, Beckman, EDUARD MIX PRIPPS. Among the leading plumbing contracting concerns of Indiana, the establishment of the Pripps Company, of Gary, is considerably more than a local organization. Its patronage has extended for many miles surrounding the Calumet region and its reputation and prosperity have been built up through the energy and good management of its president, Eduard M. Pripps, who has been identified with this line of endeavor since youth and who has been a resident of Gary since 1910. He has been the architect of his own fortunes. Mr. Pripps was born July 31, 1884, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a son of Fernando W. and Caroline Pripps. His paternal grandfather was Henry Pripps, a native of Hamburg, Germany, who immigrated to the United States in 1856 and took up his residence at Milwaukee, where he became private secretary in the office of the Evening Wisconsin newspaper, one of the earliest publications of the state. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Pripps was a Norwegian who came to the United States in 1838 and located at what is known as Wind Lakem, twenty-five miles north of Milwaukee. Fernando W. Pripps was a plumber by trade and followed that vocation throughout his life. He and his wife were the parents of three children: Eduard, Clara and Fred. Eduard M. Pripps attended the public schools of Milwaukee, and upon graduating from high school began his apprenticeship to the plumber’s trade under the preceptorship of his father. He remained with the elder man until January, 1910, at which time he came to Gary to cast his fortunes with the growing steel city, and from 1910 until 1912 was associated with a well-known plumbing concern. In 1912 he decided to enter business on his own account, and accordingly opened a modest, one-man establishment, with a small capital as to money, but with a full equipment of ability, enthusiasm and determination. From this small beginning Mr. Pripps has built up what is probably the largest individual business of this kind in the entire Calumet region, the working force now consisting of approximately fifty-five skilled mechanics. Mr. Pripps financed the building program for many of Gary’s most substantial buildings, among these being the Ritten Building, Bonier Apartments, Alex Nash Building, Townes Building and Weber Apartments. He was the plumbing contractor of the one hundred apartment building at Fourth Avenue and Washington Street, of the Lake Hotel and of the New Gary Hotel. He also has done other extensive work, including a number of school contracts, and has built up a solid reputation for honesty, ability and expeditious service. He built and for a time owned the Gateway Apartments, was secretary and treasurer of the William H. Welter Company for years, and has been active in the construction of some of Gary’s largest and most handsome office buildings and residences. Mr. Pripps is a Mason of high degree and a member of Orak Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S., of Hammond; and belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Lions Club, Gary Country. Club, Gary Commercial Club and Chamber of Commerce and the Medinah Athletic Club of Chicago. He and his family belong to the Central Christian Church bf Gary, and his wife is active in church work and in various women’s clubs. During the World war he was a “four-minute” man and took an active part in all of the drives, and during times of peace has always supported worthy civic measures. On June 29, 1910, Mr. Pripps was united in marriage with Miss Cora Allen, daughter of John and Mary (Beckman) Allen, the latter being a descendant of an old Knicker bocker family. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Pripps: Allen E., Eduard R., Marian Lucille and Harriet.