Background
Jonas was born in Exeter, England to Annie Ezekiel and Benjamin Jonas.
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 also joined the Freemasons in Cincinnati. Lucy suddenly died in 1825, and Abraham moved to Williamstown, Kentucky.
He was elected to the state legislature for four years.
While in Kentucky, Abraham organized a Masonic Lodge and was eventually elected 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, Illinois 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. 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.
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.
He was a former member of the Illinois and Kentucky State Legislature, a leading lawyer, and a valued friend of Abraham Lincoln. lieutenant 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.