Dabbling in Politics

Jonathan himself was not much of a politician. His political forays were in support of his deep moral convictions. He had two especially close friends in politics whom he support throughout his life: Thaddeus Stevens, the Republican representative of Pennsylvania, and Supreme Court Justice Salmon P. Chase.

Jonathan's first opportunity to enter politics came in 1858 after his resignation from Knox. He was nominated as the Republican candidate for Congress for his district. He rejected the nomination, but did not completely disavow an interest in politics.

In the 1870s, Jonathan helped found the American Party. This small party was the political arm of the National Christian Association. Some of its political aims were Sabbath observance, prohibition, and disbanding of secret societies. In 1884, Jonathan was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate. In February, Jonathan withdrew his name. He instead endorsed Samuel C. Pomeroy, a United States Senator from Kansas.