Thomas F. Ramsey

Thomas F. Ramsey (December 12, 1858 – September 7, 1911) was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

For others of the same name, see Thomas Ramsey.

Thomas F. Ramsey
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Milwaukee 6th district
In office
January 1, 1909 – January 1, 1911
Preceded byLucian H. Palmer
Succeeded byChauncey W. Yockey
In office
January 1, 1905 – January 1, 1907
Preceded byThomas F. Timlin
Succeeded byLucian H. Palmer
Personal details
Born(1858-12-12)December 12, 1858
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
DiedSeptember 7, 1911(1911-09-07) (aged 52)
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Resting placeCalvary Cemetery
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationPolitician

Background

Ramsey was born on December 12, 1858, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[1] He worked as an insurance and real estate broker. He later worked for the Western Union Telegraph Company and Postal Telegraph Company.[2]

Political career

By 1904, Ramsey had been a member of the Milwaukee Common Council, and a trustee of the Milwaukee Public Museum, for seven years, when he was elected to the Assembly's Sixth Milwaukee County's District (the 3rd, 4th and 7th wards of the City of Milwaukee), as a Democrat. The prior incumbent, fellow Democrat Thomas F. Timlin (also an insurance and real-estate agent), had died since the previous session. Ramsey drew 2,404 votes against 2,199 for Republican Albert L. Vannaman and 750 for Social Democrat Joseph P. Lahm. He was assigned to the standing committee on legislative expenditures.[3]

In 1906, he was unseated by Republican Lucian H. Palmer, a Republican who would thus become the first African-American member of the Wisconsin Legislature. Palmer won with 1668 votes, to Ramsey's 1601, Social Democrat Joseph Sultair's 507, and Prohibitionist Lyle Walker's 89.[4] Palmer was not the Republican nominee in 1908, being replaced on the ticket by white attorney Chauncey W. Yockey. Ramsey reclaimed his old seat, with 2352 votes to Yockey's 1770 and Social Democrat Edward Campbell's 579. He was assigned to the committee on cities.[5] In 1910, Yockey was once more the Republican nominee, and unseated Ramsey in turn, with 1298 votes to Ramsey's 1218 and Social Democrat William Gladdings' 727.[6]

Death

Ramsey died in Milwaukee on September 7, 1911, from "heart trouble" (while under scrutiny for his role in the election of Isaac Stephenson to the United States Senate) and is interred in Calvary Cemetery.[7]

References
  1. "Ramsey, Thomas F." Statewide County WI Archives Biographies. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  2. "Biographical Sketches". Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin. State of Wisconsin. 1909. p. 1129. Retrieved June 9, 2015 – via Google Books.
  3. Erickson, Halford, ed. The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1905; pp. 566, 1108
  4. Beck, J. D., ed. The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1907; p. 627
  5. Beck, J. D., ed. The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin Madison: Democrat Printing Co., State Printer, 1909; pp. 529, 567, 1129
  6. Beck, J. D., ed. The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin Madison: Democrat Printing Company, State Printer, 1911; p. 347
  7. "Dies Before the Probe Begins". The Daily Review. Milwaukee. September 7, 1911. Retrieved June 23, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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