The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-04-05


United States postofice and one of
Kenosha's most distinguished and re-
vered citizens died at his home on
Milwaukee avenue just after nine
o'clock Sunday morning.
Mr.. Timme had been in failing
health for more than year and his
death came as a result of breaking
down due to the infirmities of age. He
had been able to be about his home a
week ago when he and his wife OBJ
served the fifty-sixth anniversary of
their marriage but since last Monday
he had been confined to his room. He
passed away on Sunday morning with
his widow and children at his bedside.
The announcement of his death
brought sorrow in Kenosha as for
more than half a century he held
commanding place in the official life
Of the city, the county, the state and
the nation.
Funeral services will be held from
the late residence at two o'clock Tues
day afternoon, Members of the
Grand Army of the Republic will be
in charge of the services where the
remains are laid at rest in the family
plot at Green Ridge cemetery.
One of COunty's Oldest Residents.
Colonel Timme was one of the coun-
ty's oldest residents, man who had
held many public Offices and man
who gave most distinguished service
to the nation during the period of
Civil war. While he had lived re-
tired life for the past decade in for
mer years he was most active in the
advancement of Kenosha and few men
in this section of Wisconsin had been
more widely known.
Ernst G. Timme was born in Wer-
den, Prussia, on June Fl, 1843. He
was a son of Theodore and Henrietta
(SturznickeD Timme. In 1847 the
family immigrated to America making
the voyage by sailing vessel. The
crossing required seven weeks and the
vessel was twice shipwrecked during
the trip.
Colonel Timme and the other mem
bers of the family reached Southport
on the 18th Of August, 1S47, and they
went at once to the western part Of
Kenosha county and established their
new home in the township of Wheat
land.
Enlists in Army at Eighteen.
Colonel Timme was educated in the
schools Of Wheatland and he remain
ed on the farm until shortly after the,
outbreak of the Civil war. On July
10th. 1861, when he had just passed
10 ~ MI 1. ]
in the Union Army as a member of
Company G of the First Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry. The company was
formed in response to the first call of
President Lincoln for troops. Col.
Timme enlisted for three years or for
the duration Of the war and he was
with the fighting forces of the union
at the front until he was honorably
discharged at Madison May 6th 1864
He had part in the battles of Perry
vile, Stone River, Hoover's Gap, and
Chickamauga and in score of lesser
battles in which his division partici-
pated. He was wounded in the first
days fighting at Chickamauga and his
wound was so severe that three days
later twas necessary to amputate his
left ARM He was breveted a captain
for his bravery on the field at Chick
amauga. Later he was advanced to
the rank of colonel.
Held Many Public Offices.
On his return from the war Captain
Timme completed his education by at
tending the Bryant and Stratton Com
mercial College at Cleveland, Ohio
from which he was graduated in 1865.
Returning to the old home in the town
of Wheatland he taught school and
was later elected as town clerk of the
town which-o office he held for two
years. He also served the town as
assessor and justice of the peace hold
ing the three offices at one time. He
was then elected county clerk of Ke-
nosha county, and he proved so ef1ci-
ent in the Office that he held the po-
sition for term of fifteen years.
In the fall of 1881 he was elected
secretary of state of Wisconsin and
he held Office in Madison for nine
years. He was most active in the Re-
publican leadership in Wisconsin and
during these years he was repeatedly
suggested as the Republican candi-
date for governor.
Served in U. S. Post Office.
In 1891 he was appointed by Presi-
dent Benjamin Harrison as fifth au-
ditor of the United States Treasury
and he retained this Office during the
Harrison administration. On his re-
turn to Wisconsin he was elected as
state senator for the Third Wiscon-
sin District and he served in the up
per house Of the legislature for four
years.
When William Mckinley was elect
ed President one of his first appoint
ments was the naming of Colonel
Timme as an auditor in the depart
ment of state and he occupied this
position for term of seven years.
At the end of this time he was trans
ferred by President Roosevelt to the
United States post Office and he serv-
ed for three years as an auditor in
the post Office department.
At the end of the Roosevelt admin
istration he resigned his position on