Jonas, Abraham, 1855-1923

Abraham Jonas was born in Rogasen, Posen, Germany in 1855 to Rev. Joachim and Amalia (Dresner) Jonas. He immigrated to the United States when he was 18 and moved to Oakland, California in 1875. He was a merchant (establishing the Hub Department Store), a real estate holder, a civic and political leader, and vice-president of the Bank of Germany of Oakland. He was heavily involved in Oakland's Jewish community and in numerous other charitable, civic and fraternal activities. Jonas served on the Board of Directors of the First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland (Temple Sinai) for 35 years, acting as president for 12 years. Along with Rabbi Friedlander of the First Hebrew Congregation, he worked on a revision of the Jewish Prayer Book. Jonas was also president of B'nai B'rith's District Grand Lodge No. 4. His charitable activities included terms as director of the Non-Sectarian Associated Charities, chairman of the General Committee for the American Jewish Relief Committee for Sufferers from the War during World War I, and commissioner of the Municipal Wood Yard (which, according to Davis' Commercial Encyclopedia of the Pacific Southwest, was "a scientific attempt to allay some of the evils of poverty arising among homeless and friendless working men who are from time to time stranded in this city"). In the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906, Jonas was active in relief work. Abraham Jonas' other civic contributions included terms as president of the Merchants' Exchange of Oakland and director of the Oakland Chamber of Commerce. Jonas was quite involved in the Merchants' Exchange's Inter-County Tunnel Committee. He also served on Boards relating to the Oakland visits of President Taft, Nathan Straus and Victor Metcalf (Secretary of Commerce and Labor in 1904). Jonas was a member of the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and, in 1899, Jonas ran as a candidate for Oakland's councilman-at-large. According to Davis' Commercial Encyclopedia of the Pacific Southwest, he was best known for his work "with the annexation movement, looking toward the consolidation of county and city governments in Alameda County." Called the "Father of Consolidation," Jonas was among the first in the Oakland community to work toward the goal of centralizing power in local government. Jonas married Katie Hartman in 1881, and had two sons (Milton and Irving) and two daughters (Mrs. Morris N. Goldtree (Corrinne) and Mrs. Otto Herschman (Gertrude). Abraham Jonas died at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco in 1923.

From the description of Abraham Jonas papers, 1885-1966. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 74983518

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