Representative Milton Kraus

Milton Kraus (June 26, 1866 – November 18, 1942) was an American lawyer, manufacturer, and Republican politician who served three terms as a U.S. Representative from Indiana from 1917 to 1923. Born in Kokomo, Indiana, to German-Jewish parents, he grew up in the public school system, attending the common and high schools in his hometown. His family background placed him among the early Jewish communities in the Midwest, and he would later be recognized among the Jewish members who have served in the United States Congress.

Kraus pursued higher education in law and enrolled at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He graduated from the law department in 1886, receiving formal legal training at one of the leading public universities of the time. The following year, in 1887, he was admitted to the bar and soon thereafter commenced the practice of law in Peru, Indiana. Establishing himself professionally in Peru, he became active in civic and public affairs, laying the groundwork for his later political career.

In addition to his legal practice, Kraus demonstrated a commitment to national service during the Spanish–American War. During that conflict in 1898, he organized a company of volunteers, reflecting both his leadership abilities and his support for American military efforts at the turn of the twentieth century. His growing prominence in Republican politics in Indiana was further evidenced by his role as a presidential elector in the 1908 presidential election, participating directly in the formal process of choosing the President and Vice President of the United States.

Kraus’s congressional career began with his election as a Republican to the Sixty-fifth Congress. He was subsequently reelected to the Sixty-sixth and Sixty-seventh Congresses, serving continuously from March 4, 1917, to March 3, 1923, as a Representative from Indiana. His tenure in the House of Representatives coincided with a significant period in American history, encompassing the nation’s involvement in World War I, the immediate postwar era, and the early years of the 1920s. As a member of the House, Milton Kraus participated in the legislative process, contributed to debates and lawmaking during a time of major domestic and international change, and represented the interests of his Indiana constituents within the broader framework of the Republican Party’s policies and priorities.

After three terms in office, Kraus sought another term but was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1922 to the Sixty-eighth Congress. With the conclusion of his congressional service in March 1923, he returned to private life. Drawing on his earlier business experience, he resumed manufacturing activities, remaining engaged in the economic life of his community while withdrawing from national elective office.

In his later years, Kraus continued to reside in Indiana. He died in Wabash, Indiana, on November 18, 1942. He was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru, Indiana, the community where he had long practiced law and built his professional and political career. His life and service are recorded in the official Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, and he is remembered as part of the historical record of Jewish members who have served in the national legislature.