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.[2] 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.[2] The Timme family arrived at Southport, Wisconsin Territory (now Kenosha), on August 17 of that year.[2] They quickly acquired land in the western part of the county, in the town of Wheatland, and established a homestead.[2] Timme was educated in the common schools in Wheatland, and, on turning 18, he enlisted in the Union Army for service in the American Civil War.[2]
Civil War service
Timme enrolled with a company of volunteers from Kenosha County on a three-year enlistment. The company proceeded to Camp Scott in Milwaukee, and was integrated into the 1st Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, which was reorganizing after its previous 3-month enlistment had expired.[3] Timme's company was designated Company C.[2]
After his amputation, Timme decided to pursue higher education at Bryant & Stratton College in Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in 1865.[2] He returned to Wheatland, Wisconsin, where he taught school. Back in Kenosha County, he quickly entered public service—he was elected town clerk, and served as town assessor and justice of the peace. Then, in 1866, he was elected Kenosha County Clerk and was re-elected seven times, serving fifteen years.[2]
Timme was first discussed as a candidate for Secretary of State at the 1877 State Republican Convention, which ultimately nominated Hans Warner, who was elected. In 1881, Warner sought the party's nomination for Governor instead, and the Party selected Timme as their nominee for Secretary of State that year. Timme defeated Democrat Michael Johnson, of Springdale, with 48% of the vote.[4] 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.[2] 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.[2]
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.[2]
