MILTON O. KNAUSS, superintendent of the Crane Iron Works, of Catasauqua, was born at Macungie, Pa., February 19, 1885. He was educated in the East Macungie public schools, and in July, 1898, he began learning the profession of chemistry in the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works at Catasauqua. After he had served about one year he accepted the position of chief chemist with the Allentown Rolling Mills, a position he served with marked ability when a mere lad of fifteen years, but after he had filled the latter position about three months, Leonard Peckitt, the president of the Crane Iron Works asked him to accept a similar position with his company in its laboratory at an advanced salary. He accepted the appointment and filled it satisfactorily, until he was promoted to the superintendency of the Macungie furnace, which also belongs to the Empire Steel and Iron Co. In September, 1911, the same company sent him to start up their furnace at Topton, Pa., and he continued there until December, of that year, when he was promoted to his present position, owing to the death of H. R. Hall, at Catasauqua. He has under his charge from 250 to 350 men. He is a member of the Macungie Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F.

On September 24, 1904, he was wedded to Ada DeLong, daughter of Tilghman and Angelina (Fenstermacher) DeLong, of Topton, Pa., and they have an adopted daughter, Mabel Isabella Knauss.

Milton O. Knauss, son of George F. and Annie (Hittle) Knauss, was born at Macungie, Pennsylvania, February 19, 1885. He was educated in the East Macungie public schools, and in July 1898, he began learning the profession of chemistry in the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works. After serving about one year he accepted a position of chief chemist with the Allentown Rolling Mills, but after he filled this position for three months, Leonard Peckitt, president of the Empire Steel and Iron Company, asked him to accept a similar position with his company in the laboratory of the Crane Iron Works at an advanced salary. He filled this position satisfactorily until he was promoted to the superintendency of the Macungie furnace, then owned by the Empire Steel and Iron Company. In September 1911, the company sent him to start up their furnace at Topton, and he continued there until December 1911, when he was appointed superintendent of the Crane Iron Works, and he served as such until 1923, when the furnace was put out of blast. He then became foreman in the plate and machine shop of the Fuller-Lehigh Company, remaining there for two years, when he accepted a position as foreman in the pipe foundry of R. D. Wood and Company at Florence, New Jersey. Milton O. Knauss returned to Catasauqua and was appointed general manager of the Davies and Thomas Company, and in
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1939, in the company of Frederick J. Walker and S. M. Rutledge, he formed the Catasauqua Machine Works, and he remained connected with this firm until October 1950, when the company ceased operations. He then became foreman in the machine shop of the Fuller Company, remaining there until retiring in 1956.
 
On September 24, 1904, Milton O. Knauss was wedded to Ada DeLong, daughter of Tilghman and Angelina (Fenstermacher) DeLong, of Topton. From this union were born the following children: a Daughter, died January 1, 1908; Mabel Isabella, married Meade Detweiler; Rhea A., born 1913, died 1916; Jeanne, married Theodore Redman; and a Son, died November 17, 1920.
 
Milton O. Knauss served the borough in various capacities, as a member of the school board, of which he was president; borough council and the Board of Health; and as a member of the board of managers of the Fairview Cemetery Association. Mr. and Mrs. Knauss reside for a time at 507 Walnut Street and later at 323 Bridge Street, and they were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
 
Milton O. Knauss passed away in Northampton Hospital on November 16, 1966 and his remains were interred at Fairview Cemetery. Ada (DeLong) Knauss preceded her husband in death by two days dying on November 14, 1966 and her remains were also interred at Fairview Cemetery.