1900 U.S. Census, Port Jervis, NY, Supervisor's District 10, Enum. Distr. 10, Sheet 17
49 Hudson Street, Deer Park:
John Knaub, Head, Married 3 years, Born Aug., 1854, age 45, born in New York, Parents born in Germany, Engineer
William Knaub, Brother, Single, Born May, 1869, born in New York, Parents born in Germany, Locomotive Fireman
John Knaub, in his role as Treasurer of Div. 54 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, was named in a 1907 suit brought by engineer Michael F. Fritz who was expelled and successfully sought reinstatement to the Brotherhood. Click here for more information on Fritz vs. Knaub.
From the January, 1908 issue of Erie Magazine (Port Jervis News):
Engineer John Knaub was elected Second Assistant Engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division No. 54, in January 1908.
From the January, 1910 issue of Erie Magazine (Port Jervis News):
Engineer John Knaub was reported as Second Assistant Engineer of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Division No. 54.
From the September, 1917 issue of Erie Magazine:
PREVENTION OF PERSONAL INJURIES
By J. Knaub, Yard Engineer, New York Division
The following paper on what engineers can do to prevent personal injuries was prepared in the interest of Safety First, and read at a recent meeting of the Safety committee held at Jersey City, NJ:
Familiarize yourself with the safety rules of the Erie Railroad. Live strictly up to them yourself and set the pace for men working with you to follow, and caution any person whom you observe violating safety rules.
When pushing or backing cars and you fail to see signal, stop at once. It is better to stop than go over the bumping block or do some other damage which may result in personal injury.
When switching cars and you receive a stop signal, and the trainman giving the signal crosses over to the opposite side to turn a switch or go between cars for some reason, and another member of the crew should give a back-up or go-ahead signal, wait until the man who went between the cars returns to your side and gives the proper signal.
When you are running through yards and find switches wrong, stop: do not expect the trainman to jump off your engine to run ahead and throw a switch. This may result in accident.
When you are going to use or shut off injector, do not guess that there is nobody near enough to the overflow pipe to be scalded: look, and see, it takes only a few seconds.
Yard engines in haul service when given a track to pull train in on during foggy weather, should use extra precaution and if necessary send one of your crew ahead. Errors have been made giving a track as clear, when obstructed, and reverse moves have been made that the yardmaster giving the clear track had no control over. The same precaution should apply to thoroughfare tracks which are used in both directions.
Engineers should report all steam leaks on their engines; they obscure your view and the view of others, and may result in an accident. If they are not given proper attention by the shop forces, go higher.
Do not stop your engine or permit your engine to stand under a signal and allow smoke from the stack and escaping steam from the pops to obscure the signal from an approaching train.
When you are using a switching stake to push cars, see that the trainman follows the stake. It may save an accident.
If there are obstructions in yards where you have to work -- and there are at times -- report them on card form 4032. That is what this form is for. Report all dangerous situations to your superintendent at once.
Do all that you can at all times to make conditions safer and better for yourself, employees, and all concerned.
From the June, 1920 issue of Erie Magazine:
JOHN KNAUB�From the Port Jervis Union the death of John Knaub is learned. He was an Erie engineer, 65 years of age, and his death occurred suddenly as he was about to retire for the night. Engineer Knaub was a veteran of the service, having been with the company since 1870, when he became a fireman. He ran on the Delaware division, and in recent years, handled an engine in the Port Jervis yard. He held membership in Division 54, B. of L. E., Port Jervis Lodge of Elks, Excelsior Hose Company, and had long been a member of St. Peter's Lutheran church.