MSS 147 Zalmon Wildman Papers

              MSS 1 4 1
Zalmon Wildman Papers
1- 3/ 4 cubic feet
OHIO Standard inventory
H I S T O R Y
Collection Synopsis
The Ohio Historical Society acquired the Zalmon
rs from Edward Eberstadt, New York, in 1952 and 1955.
Property rights: The Ohio Historical Society owns the property
rights to this collection.
Copyrights: Copyrights have not been dedicated to the public.
Consideration of the requirements of copyright is the responsi-bility
of the author and publisher.
Access: This collection is open under the rules and regulations
of the Ohio Historical Society.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite collection name,
collection number, and the Ohio Historical Society in all footnote
and bibliographic references.
Biographical sketch: Zalmon Wildman was born on February 16, 1775,
in Danbury, Connecticut. A prominent hat manufacturer, Wildman
also served as postmaster of Danbury from 1805 to 1835, and as
associate judge of Fairfield County ( CT) from 1817 to 1824. He
was elected as a Democrat from Connecticut to the U. S. House of
Representatives and served from March 4, 1835, until his death in
Washington, D. C., on December 20, 1835.
In Nbvember 1805 Zalmon Wildman and his brother, Seymour, became
interested in the speculative possibilities offered by the acquisi-tion
of holdings in the " Firelands." Together they purchased vari-ous
tracts, which, by 1812, totaled some 5,000 acres. Almost
immediately the brothers procured the services of agents to repre-sent
them in their Ohio transactions. The agents advised them
from time to time as to the value of lands, the progress of settle-
. merit, and business opportunities offered in the new community.
Following Seymour's death in 1823, Zalmon wildman continued his
speculations in Ohio lands.
The outbreak of the War of 1812 brought danger to his investments.
Immediately preceding and during the Second War with England land
values decreased as the settlers, experiencing the horrors of
Indian raids, deserted their homes. During this period Zalmon
Wildman, doubtful of the ability of the Militia to expel the
English and their Indian allies, expressed the desire to rid him-self
of his " troublesome holdings." He attempted to solve his
financial problems in much the same way as other contemporary
speculators by extending credit and by refusing to enforce payment
on overdue mortgages. He managed not only his own affairs, but
attended also to business matters for other members of the family.
He advised his relatives and gave wise councel to small investors
who had purchased small tracts of land either for speculative
purposes or for permanent homes.
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
1982 Velrna Avenue. Columbus. Ohio 43211~ 2497 ph: 614.297.2300 fx: 614.297.2411
www nhiohi<" nre " 7"