Benjamin Franklin JONAS, Congress, LA (1834-1911)

JONAS, Benjamin Franklin, a Senator from Louisiana; born in Williamsport, Grant County, Ky., July 19, 1834; moved with his parents to Adams County, Ill.; attended the public schools; moved to New Orleans, La., in 1853; graduated from the law department of the University of Louisiana at Pineville in 1855; admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice in New Orleans; enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862 and served throughout the Civil War; member, State house of representatives 1865-1868; elected to the State senate in 1872 but declined to take the seat; city attorney of New Orleans 1875-1879; member, State house of representatives 1876-1877; elected as a Democrat to the United States Senate and served from March 4, 1879, to March 3, 1885; unsuccessful Democratic candidate for reelection in 1884; chairman, Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs (Forty-sixth Congress); collector of the port of New Orleans 1885-1889; resumed the practice of law; died in New Orleans, La., on December 21, 1911; interment in Dispersed of Judah Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present