C. Meyer Zulick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
C. Meyer Zulick
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| 7th Governor of Arizona Territory | |
| In office November 2, 1885 – April 8, 1889 |
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| Nominated by | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Frederick Augustus Tritle |
| Succeeded by | Lewis Wolfley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 3, 1839 Easton, Pennsylvania |
| Died | March 2, 1926 (aged 86) Asbury Park, New Jersey |
| Nationality | United States |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Caroline L. Nightingale |
| Profession | Attorney |
Conrad Meyer Zulick (born June 3, 1839 – died March 1, 1926) was an American judge and a member of the Democratic Party. He became the seventh Governor of Arizona Territory. During his time as governor, the Indian Wars ended. Also, the capital city of the territory moved from Prescott to Phoenix. He was even a prisoner in Mexico when he was chosen for the job!
Contents
Early Life and Career
Zulick was born on June 3, 1839, in Easton, Pennsylvania. His father was from Frankfurt, Germany, and his mother was from Pennsylvania. He went to a private school and had special teachers.
He studied to become a lawyer. In June 1860, he was allowed to practice law in New Jersey. He also helped with the election campaign for Stephen A. Douglas in the 1860 presidential election.
Military Service and Public Office
When the American Civil War started, Zulick joined the army. He worked with the Second Division of Colored Volunteers. He became a high-ranking officer, a colonel. He left the army because of an injury he got while serving.
After the war, he moved to Newark, New Jersey. He became the first person from the Democratic Party to be a "Surrogate" in Essex County. A Surrogate is a judge who handles things like wills and estates.
Zulick married Caroline L. Nightingale. They had one daughter named Lillian Carlotta. His grandson, DeWitt C. Ramsey, later became a Naval aviator.
President Andrew Johnson chose Zulick to collect taxes for Essex County. In 1879, he was elected as a Surrogate Judge for Essex County. He also attended the 1880 Democratic National Convention. This was a big meeting where the Democratic Party chose its candidate for president.
Zulick was offered chances to become a governor or a member of Congress. But he said no. He had started businesses in Arizona and planned to move there. By late 1884, he had moved to Tombstone, Arizona Territory.
Becoming Governor of Arizona
Zulick became the Governor of Arizona Territory because Senator John R. McPherson from New Jersey helped him. President Grover Cleveland officially chose him on October 14, 1885. The U.S. Senate agreed to this choice on December 10, 1885. He was chosen again for a full four-year term on May 5, 1886.
A Surprising Appointment
When he was first chosen as governor, Zulick was in jail! He was in Nacozari, Sonora, Mexico. He was there for his job as president of a copper mining company. He found out that in Mexico, he could be held until the company's debts were paid.
A rescue team helped him escape in the middle of the night. Zulick didn't even know he was going to be governor until he was back in the United States!
After his rescue, people in Tombstone, Tucson, and Phoenix welcomed him. Most people in Arizona were Democrats, so they were happy to have a governor from their party. Zulick officially became governor on November 2, 1885.
Challenges as Governor
As governor, Zulick faced several problems. There was smuggling along the Mexican border. Also, some officials from the previous government didn't want to leave their jobs. A court order had to make them leave.
The biggest problem was the escape of Geronimo and some Chiricahua Apache people. They had left the San Carlos Reservation. Many Arizonans wanted action against them.
Governor Zulick told citizens not to take the law into their own hands. This made many people unhappy. One newspaper said he was calling Arizonans "lawless ruffians." His popularity went down, but President Cleveland still trusted him.
Financial Issues and New Laws
Arizona Territory also had money problems. The government owed a lot of money. The U.S. Congress then set limits on how much money territories could owe.
Because of these limits, the next group of lawmakers spent much less money. They also passed a "Stock and Sanitary Law." This law made people register their cattle brands. It also required checking animals brought into the territory for diseases.
During this time, Zulick announced that the problem with hostile Indians was over after Geronimo's group was captured. He also supported getting rid of a "test oath law." This law made it harder for Mormon immigrants to vote. He believed that people should not be punished for their beliefs unless they broke a law. Some people thought he made a deal with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) to gain control.
End of His Term
When Benjamin Harrison became president, it meant Zulick's time as governor was ending. A new governor was not chosen right away.
During the last legislative session of Zulick's term, the capital moved from Prescott to Phoenix. Zulick also supported Arizona becoming a state. He signed a law to hold a meeting to write a state constitution. However, the next governor, Lewis Wolfley, stopped this meeting from happening.
Zulick's last act was to choose many new officials for the territory. But the new governor, Wolfley, chose his own people. Many of Zulick's choices refused to leave their jobs. This caused problems for the new governor.
Life After Being Governor
After leaving office, Zulick moved to a farm near Phoenix. He grew fruits like figs, grapes, and oranges. He also bought many horses and raised them.
In November 1890, he was elected to the 16th Arizona Territorial Legislature. When Grover Cleveland became president again in 1893, some people thought Zulick might become governor again. This idea came up again in 1895.
Later, Zulick retired and moved back to New Jersey. He passed away in Asbury Park, New Jersey, on March 2, 1926. He was buried in Easton Cemetery in Easton.
