Timothy Howe

Timothy Howe was a prominent American jurist, politician, and statesman who served as a United States Senator from Wisconsin and as United States Postmaster General. A key figure in the Republican Party during the Civil War and Reconstruction, he was known for his staunch support of Abraham Lincoln's administration and his advocacy for progressive legal and economic policies. His career spanned the judiciary in Wisconsin and influential roles in the federal government, culminating in his cabinet service under President Chester A. Arthur.

Early life and education

Timothy Otis Howe was born on February 24, 1816, in Livermore, Maine, to Timothy Howe and Patty (Wiley) Howe. He received his early education in local schools before attending Readfield Seminary in Maine, where he studied law. Admitted to the bar in 1839, he initially practiced law in Readfield before moving westward, eventually settling in the burgeoning territory of Wisconsin in 1845. He established his legal practice in the lakeside community of Green Bay, quickly gaining a reputation as a skilled attorney and orator. His early professional years coincided with Wisconsin's transition from territory to statehood, immersing him in the region's dynamic political landscape.

Legal and political career

Howe's legal acumen propelled him into public service, and he was elected as a circuit judge for Wisconsin's 4th judicial district in 1850. The following year, he was appointed as one of the first associate justices of the newly reorganized Wisconsin Supreme Court, serving from 1851 to 1853. Originally a member of the Whig Party, he became a founding member of the Republican Party in Wisconsin following the dissolution of the Whigs. He was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention in Chicago, which nominated Abraham Lincoln for president. Howe was an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1857, but his growing influence within state Republican circles set the stage for his future election.

U.S. Senate service

Elected as a Republican to the United States Senate, Howe served from March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1879. A steadfast supporter of President Abraham Lincoln, he advocated for vigorous prosecution of the Civil War and supported key legislation like the Legal Tender Act of 1862 and the Homestead Act of 1862. He served on influential committees including the Committee on Finance and the Committee on the Judiciary. During Reconstruction, he was a strong proponent of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the Fourteenth Amendment, often aligning with the Radical Republicans. He was also a vocal advocate for the Alaska Purchase and supported currency reforms backed by specie. After losing his Senate re-election bid in 1878, he was appointed by President Rutherford B. Hayes as a member of the commission to settle the Alabama Claims with Great Britain.

Post-Senate career and death

Following his Senate career, Howe remained active in public life. In December 1881, President Chester A. Arthur appointed him as the United States Postmaster General. In this role, he oversaw the vast Postal Service and advocated for reforms, including the expansion of railway mail services and the introduction of postal notes, a precursor to postal money orders. His tenure was cut short by ill health. He died in office on March 25, 1883, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, while visiting the city. He was interred in Green Bay at the Woodlawn Cemetery. His death was noted as a loss to the Arthur administration and the Republican Party, marking the end of a long career dedicated to the Union cause and federal service.

Category:1816 births Category:1883 deaths Category:United States Postmasters General Category:United States Senators from Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Supreme Court justices Category:19th-century American politicians