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John P. Edris was a noted Engineering Officer and the founder of the Laporte County Historical Steam Society.

Career
John P. Edris was born on March 13, 1924 in Benton County, Indiana. Edris spent his youth in Michigan City where he would often accompany his father to work at the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) powerhouse facilities. It was at NIPSCO that Edris began a lifelong fascination with steam-powered equipment. In the early years of World War II Edris served in the US Merchant Marines before joining the Navy and sailing aboard the cruiser USS Boise CL-11. After the war Edris found employment in the engine room of the Great Lakes based passenger vessel SS America. Edris went on to serve several years as Assistant Chief Engineer at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, IN, followed by a term at the powerhouse of the Pullman Works. Edris finished his career as manager of the Long Beach Water Works, a post that he held for ten years.

Hesston Steam Museum
Edris was interested in steam-powered equipment in his personal life as well and in the early 1950s purchased a steam-powered traction engine. Needing a place to operate his engine, Edris purchased the original 22 acres of the current Hesston Steam Museum and founded the LaPorte County Threshermen. In 1968 the LaPorte County Threshermen were dissolved and absorbed into the newly founded LaPorte County Historical Steam Society, which operates the Hesston Steam Museum. At that time Edris was appointed by Elliot Donnelley to serve as General Manager of the society, a post that he held until his passing in 2006.