Stephen Salisbury (1798-1884)

He was born at Boston, the only surviving child of his parents. He graduated from Harvard (1817), studied law, but pursued a business career becoming: Treasurer of the Blackstone Canal Company; President of the Worcester Bank; President of the Worcester County Institution for Savings; and, President of the Worcester & Nashua Railroad. He built the factory known as Court Mills as well as numerous shops and houses around Worcester's Lincoln Square. He was a Selectman and Alderman for Worcester and was elected both a Massachusetts State Representative and Senator. He was President of the American Antiquarian Society; Presidential Elector; Overseer of Harvard College; Member of the Massachusetts Historical Society; and, the founder and first President of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He built and lived in the Salisbury House on 61 Harvard Street, Worcester. He was married three times and had one son, Stephen III.