Abraham Jonas (politician)
Encyclopedia
Abraham Jonas was the first permanent Jewish resident in Quincy, Illinois
. He was a former member of the Illinois and Kentucky State Legislature, a leading lawyer, and a valued friend of Abraham Lincoln
.
Jonas was born in Exeter, England to Annie Ezekiel and Benjamin Jonas. Abraham’s brother, Joseph Jonas, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio becoming the first Jew to settle west of the Allegheny Mountains
. Abraham and his brother Edward joined Joseph in Cincinnati in 1819. Abraham and his two brothers were original members of Congregation B'nai Israel (Sons of Israel), the first Jewish congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains. Abraham also joined the Freemasons in Cincinnati. He and Joseph married Lucy and Rachel Seixas; daughters of the first Rabbi born in America – Gershom Mendes Seixas
. Lucy suddenly died in 1825, and Abraham moved to Williamstown, Kentucky. There he married Lucy Block from a pioneering Jewish American family and operated a general store. He was elected to the state legislature for four years. While in Kentucky, Abraham organized a Masonic Lodge
and was eventually elected Grand Master
of the lodge in 1832. During that time he and Lucy had five children.
In 1836 he moved to Columbus in Adams County, Illinois
to operate another general store. Within two years he moved to Quincy, IL opening a carriage business and studying law in Orville Browning’s office. He then organized the Grand Masonic Lodge of Illinois in 1840 and was elected Grand Master. In 1842 he was elected as a Whig to the state legislature. Lucy and Abraham had three more children around this time. He decided to establish a law partnership with Henry Asbury, turning over the family business to his brothers Edward and Samuel who had joined him in Quincy in 1840 or 1841. It is suspected that it was during his years in legislation in Springfield that Abraham Jonas met Abraham Lincoln, as Lincoln was too a member of the state legislation at the time. Jonas ran for the Illinois Senate in 1844 but was defeated by the Democratic candidate. But his loyalty to the Whig party earned him the position as postmaster of Quincy in 1849 serving until 1853. Lincoln and Jonas remained dear friends during this time. When the Whig party died, Jonas and Lincoln both joined the new Republican Party. On November 1, 1854 Lincoln was accused of attending a Know-Nothing Party meeting, but was vouched by Jonas who he was actually with. Jonas arranged the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate in Quincy, and aided Lincoln to his candidacy. It was his law partner Henry Asbury who suggested Lincoln’s candidacy in front of a group of local Republicans. Asbury’s suggestion was greeted by silence until Jonas agreed that it would be a good idea.
Abraham Jonas was noted as one of the greatest orators himself in the area. He was elected Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1843. Lincoln appointed Jonas postmaster of Quincy in 1861 until his death in 1864. Jonas had five children, four sons and a daughter. Three of his sons fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War while the other fought for the Union. Lincoln personally ordered the release of his son Charles Jonas from a prisoner of war camp to be at his father’s bedside.
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
. He was a former member of the Illinois and Kentucky State Legislature, a leading lawyer, and a valued friend of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
.
Jonas was born in Exeter, England to Annie Ezekiel and Benjamin Jonas. Abraham’s brother, Joseph Jonas, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio becoming the first Jew to settle west of the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
. Abraham and his brother Edward joined Joseph in Cincinnati in 1819. Abraham and his two brothers were original members of Congregation B'nai Israel (Sons of Israel), the first Jewish congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains. Abraham also joined the Freemasons in Cincinnati. He and Joseph married Lucy and Rachel Seixas; daughters of the first Rabbi born in America – Gershom Mendes Seixas
Gershom Mendes Seixas
Gershom Mendes Seixas was the first native-born Jewish minister in the United States. He was the minister of Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue of New York from 1768 to 1776 and again from 1784 to 1816...
. Lucy suddenly died in 1825, and Abraham moved to Williamstown, Kentucky. There he married Lucy Block from a pioneering Jewish American family and operated a general store. He was elected to the state legislature for four years. While in Kentucky, Abraham organized a Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and was eventually elected Grand Master
Grand Master (Masonic)
In Freemasonry a Grand Master is the leader of the lodges within his Masonic jurisdiction. He presides over a Grand Lodge, and has certain rights in the constituent lodges that form his jurisdiction....
of the lodge in 1832. During that time he and Lucy had five children.
In 1836 he moved to Columbus in Adams County, Illinois
Adams County, Illinois
Adams County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 67,103, which is a decrease of 1.7% from 68,277 in 2000...
to operate another general store. Within two years he moved to Quincy, IL opening a carriage business and studying law in Orville Browning’s office. He then organized the Grand Masonic Lodge of Illinois in 1840 and was elected Grand Master. In 1842 he was elected as a Whig to the state legislature. Lucy and Abraham had three more children around this time. He decided to establish a law partnership with Henry Asbury, turning over the family business to his brothers Edward and Samuel who had joined him in Quincy in 1840 or 1841. It is suspected that it was during his years in legislation in Springfield that Abraham Jonas met Abraham Lincoln, as Lincoln was too a member of the state legislation at the time. Jonas ran for the Illinois Senate in 1844 but was defeated by the Democratic candidate. But his loyalty to the Whig party earned him the position as postmaster of Quincy in 1849 serving until 1853. Lincoln and Jonas remained dear friends during this time. When the Whig party died, Jonas and Lincoln both joined the new Republican Party. On November 1, 1854 Lincoln was accused of attending a Know-Nothing Party meeting, but was vouched by Jonas who he was actually with. Jonas arranged the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debate in Quincy, and aided Lincoln to his candidacy. It was his law partner Henry Asbury who suggested Lincoln’s candidacy in front of a group of local Republicans. Asbury’s suggestion was greeted by silence until Jonas agreed that it would be a good idea.
Abraham Jonas was noted as one of the greatest orators himself in the area. He was elected Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 1843. Lincoln appointed Jonas postmaster of Quincy in 1861 until his death in 1864. Jonas had five children, four sons and a daughter. Three of his sons fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War while the other fought for the Union. Lincoln personally ordered the release of his son Charles Jonas from a prisoner of war camp to be at his father’s bedside.