Peter A. Pipe Page 339b - Peter A. Pipe, of the firm of Pipe & Raap, plumbing and heating, 648 Division street, South, was born in Grand Rapids on August 8, 1891. His father and mother, Peter and Sabina (Frans) Pipe, were both natives of the Netherlands and came when rather young to Grand Rapids. They were married here and had seven children, five of whom are now living. The father was in the grocery business, later in the liquor business, and he was then associated with a land company. He was retired for about twenty years preceding his death in 1910, at which time he had reached the age of seventy years. His wife had preceded him in death in 1896. The father had been an active Democrat in the old first ward, a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic church and later of St. Joseph’s church. He was very active in the Old Settler’s Association of Kent county and Peter can recount many interesting meetings of that old association. Peter Pipe received his preliminary education in the parochial schools of Grand Rapids, and in 1907 he began his business career in automobile work. He was later employed by R. E. Heth and then engaged with O. Bitten. On December 13, 1917, he answered the call of his country and enlisted for service in the war, He was stationed in Texas, Arkansas and Minnesota. When he was discharged on March 25, 1919, as a corporal, he was serving at Ebert’s Flying School Department, at Lone Oak, Arkansas. After his return to civil life he was employed by Henry Struhs of grand Rapids, and in 1920 organized his present firm, with Mr. Raap, who had been his playmate at school and with whom he had served in the war. Mr. Pipe is a member of the Catholic church and Knights of Columbus. He was married in 1920 to Irene Cook, of Grand Rapids and they have one daughter, Ruth Stalker Pipe.

Transcriber: John Miller
Created: 22 March 2003