Ernst Timme

Ernst Gerhardt Timme (June 23, 1843 – April 1, 1923) was a German American immigrant, farmer, and Republican politician. He was the 13th Secretary of State of Wisconsin (1882–1891) and a member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing Racine and Kenosha counties. He was a Union Army volunteer in the American Civil War and lost an arm at the Battle of Chickamauga.

Early life

Timme was born in Werden, a borough of the city of Essen, in what is now western Germany. At the time of his birth, this region was part of the Rhine Province, part of the Kingdom of Prussia. At age 5, Timme emigrated with his parents to the United States by sea. The voyage was difficult, the boat was shipwrecked twice during the crossing, and ultimately took seven weeks to reach its destination. Timme's company was designated Company C. His two-year term, along with all other statewide elected officers, was subsequently extended to three years by an amendment to the state constitution, which moved state officer elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. He was re-elected in 1884, 1886, and 1888, leaving office in 1891.

That year, he was appointed as an auditor of the United States Postal Service by President Benjamin Harrison, serving until Harrison left office in 1893. After the change in administration, Timme returned to Wisconsin, and, in 1894, he won election to the Wisconsin State Senate, representing all of Racine and Kenosha counties in the recently redrawn 3rd State Senate district. Timme served a single four-year term in the Senate, and afterward received another federal appointment. President William McKinley appointed him an auditor in the United States Department of State, where he remained for the next seven years. He was then transferred back to the U.S. Postal Service under the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt, where he served another three years. At the end of Roosevelt's presidency, Timme retired and returned to Kenosha.

Personal life and family Ernst Timme married Caroline J. Maas, of Wheatland, on March 25, 1867. They had at least eight children, though only three survived to adulthood.