This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Lace_Lynch Surnames: Classification: biography Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wagstaff/231/mb.ashx Message Board Post: WILLIAM ROSS WAGSTAFF, born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1823, was the son of James Wagstaff and his wife Eve Ross. William received his primary education in the common schools of Ohio, and then attended Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio for about four years, leaving the institution a little while before he completed his course, called home by the death of his father. He studied law in the office of Kennon & White, Cambridge, Ohio, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1848, during a session of the supreme court of that State at Wooster. He at once entered upon the practice of his profession at Cambridge in partnership with J. W. White, one of his preceptors, with whom he continued in business two years. In 1850 he relinquished practice and bought out the "Guernsey Jeffersonian," a Democratic paper in Cambridge, which he published successfully for two years, when he sold his paper and resumed his legal practice, which he followed until January 1, 1857. Leaving Cambridge Mr. Wagstaff came to Kansas, and after a temporary residence in several parts of the Territory located at Paola in 1858, engaged in the practice of law. In 1859 he was elected upon the Democratic ticket to represent Linn and Miami counties in the Territorial Legislature. In 1861 he was returned for the counties of Linn, Miami and Bourbon without opposition. During the war he was aid-de-camp on the staff of Governor Robinson, and under his authority organized and commanded a force on the borders for the defense of Kansas, serving from the commencement of the war until the winter of 1864; and also commanded a company during Price's raid. He was one of the original incorporators of the Missouri River, Ft. Scott & Gulf Railroad Company, a prominent director of its affairs for about five years, and during two years its regular attorney. He is a Master Mason of forty years standing, has been Master of Paola Lodge No. 37 for about ten years, and is also a Royal Arch Mason-quite active in the affairs of the craft. January 21, 1871, he was married in Louisville, Kentucky, to Mary J. (Redfield) Torrey. The twenty years residence of Mr. Wagstaff in Kansas, his prominent and active part in the direction of public affairs during the transition period of its history justly entitles him to rank as one of her pioneers-for so completely has he been identified with much of her growth and prosperity, that his history and that of the State are at times inseparable. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.