William Sluman Messervy

William S. Messervy left his native Salem in 1834 for St. Louis, Missouri, to pursue commercial ventures before becoming a trader in Chihuahua and Santa Fe, then part of the Mexican territory of Santa Fe de Nuevo México. While there, he fought in the Mexican-American War and was incarcerated in a Mexican prison until American forces released him. By 1850, he co-founded Messervy & Webb, a Santa Fe store that wholesaled goods transported along the Santa Fe Trail.

With the creation of the U.S. Territory of New Mexico, Messervy was elected to the 31st Congress. However, the House of Representatives refused to seat him because the territory was not yet a state. He later served as Secretary of the New Mexico Territory and as Acting Governor.

He returned to Salem in 1854, became a director of several corporations, and served as mayor from 1856 to 1857. Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican during the Civil War in support of the Union. His obituary noted he “was instrumental in building up the southerly section of the borough.” He also supported literary and scientific pursuits as an active member of the Essex Institute and the Salem Athenaeum.

He is buried on Greenwood Avenue, Lot #883.