Charles A. Jonas

Charles Andrew Jonas (August 14, 1876 – May 25, 1955) was an American attorney and politician, serving one term as a U.S. Representative from western North Carolina from 1929 to 1931. A Republican, he was appointed as United States Attorney for the western district of North Carolina, serving from April 1, 1931, to July 1, 1932. Jonas later unsuccessfully ran for the US Senate and House of Representatives.

He and his son Charles Raper Jonas had a law practice together in Lincolnton, the county seat of Lincoln County. His son also entered politics, serving for two decades (1953-1973) as a Congressman from North Carolina and building up the Republican Party in the state.

Jonas was born on a farm near Lincolnton, North Carolina, the son of Martha Diane (Scronce) and Cephas Anderson Jonas. Jonas attended the public schools, Ridge Academy in Henry, North Carolina, and the Fallston (North Carolina) Institute.

He was graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1902. Jonas taught school 1902-1906, while also studying law as an apprentice with an established firm (known as "reading the law").

Jonas was admitted to the bar in 1906 and commenced practice in Lincolnton. He joined the Republican Party and was appointed as the local United States Postmaster at Lincolnton, serving 1907-1910 during the Theodore Roosevelt administration. He became editor of a local newspaper which he helped to establish in 1906.

Jonas served as City Attorney of Lincolnton 1908-1912. He was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 1914, serving 1915-1919. Active in the party, he served as delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1916, 1932, and 1936.

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