John J. Kempf

John J. Kempf (May 4, 1857 – ??) was an American shoemaker, businessman, and politician. He was the 14th and 16th state treasurer of Wisconsin—he was removed from office by the governor in 1904 during his first term and then won election to return to office later that year. He also served in the Wisconsin State Senate, representing the north side of the city of Milwaukee.

John J. Kempf
From Notable Men of Wisconsin (1902)
14th & 16th State Treasurer of Wisconsin
In office
January 2, 1905 – January 7, 1907
GovernorRobert M. La Follette
James O. Davidson
Preceded byThomas M. Purtell
Succeeded byAndrew H. Dahl
In office
January 5, 1903 – July 30, 1904
GovernorRobert M. La Follette
Preceded byJames O. Davidson
Succeeded byThomas M. Purtell
Member of the Wisconsin Senate
from the 4th district
In office
January 7, 1889 – January 2, 1893
Preceded byJoseph W. Hoyt
Succeeded byJames W. Murphy
Personal details
Born(1857-05-04)May 4, 1857
Granville, Wisconsin, U.S.
DiedAfter 1930
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
  • first wife
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1879; div. 1919)​
  • Mary (died 1934)
OccupationShoemaker

Biography

Kempf was born on May 4, 1857, in Granville, Wisconsin. He attended Spencerian Business College.[1]

Career

Kempf served as a Milwaukee alderman from 1887 to 1888. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Senate and the Register of Deeds of Milwaukee County before serving as Treasurer of Wisconsin from 1903 to 1904 and again from 1905 to 1907. Additionally, he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee from 1900 to 1903. On August 30, 1904, the Governor of Wisconsin Robert M. La Follette removed Kempf from office and appointed Thomas M. Purtell acting treasurer.[2][3]

Electoral history

Wisconsin State Senate (1888)
Wisconsin Senate, 4th District Election, 1888[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 6, 1888
Republican John J. Kempf 5,262 51.51% -2.18%
Democratic August Rebhahn 3,631 35.54% -8.14%
Labor Theodore Fritz 1,301 12.73%
Prohibition Bierney Hand 22 0.22%
Plurality 1,631 15.97% +5.96%
Total votes 10,216 100.0% +26.97%
Republican hold

Wisconsin State Treasurer (1902, 1904)
Wisconsin State Treasurer Election, 1902[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 4, 1902
Republican John J. Kempf 193,697 54.40% -5.40%
Democratic Ed L. Luckow 134,343 37.73% +1.40%
Social Democratic Henry J. Ammann 17,389 4.88% +3.37%
Prohibition Henry A. Russell 9,725 2.73%
Socialist Labor N. E. Hanson 906 0.25% +0.14%
Plurality 59,354 16.67% -6.80%
Total votes 356,060 100.0% -19.26%
Republican hold
Wisconsin State Treasurer Election, 1904[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
General Election, November 8, 1904
Republican John J. Kempf 238,759 53.71% -0.69%
Democratic Andrew Jenson 155,340 34.94% -2.79%
Prohibition John A. Berg 19,061 4.29% +1.56%
Social Democratic Henry Luther 17,945 4.04% -0.85%
National Republican Gustav Wollaeger Jr. 13,219 2.97%
Socialist Labor Henry D. Puck 219 0.05% -0.21%
Plurality 83,419 18.77% +2.10%
Total votes 444,543 100.0% +24.85%
Republican hold

References
  1. "John J. Kempf". USGenWeb Archives. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  2. "Kempf Still Fights", Eau Claire Leader, September 2, 1904, p. 8.
  3. Erickson, Halford, ed. (1903). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 1070. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  4. Timme, Ernst G., ed. (1889). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 494. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  5. Erickson, Halford, ed. (1905). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. p. 10701071. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
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