Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County, Michigan Pub. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1884 [332-335] ROBERT M. WAGSTAFF, Custodian of the Harbor of Refuge, Sand Beach, received the appointment to the position in 1882, from ROBERT T. LINCOLN, Secretary of War, on the recommendation of F. U. FARQUHAR, Major of Engineers, U. S. Army. MR. WAGSTAFF was born Sept. 10, 1835, in Buffalo, N.Y., and is the son of ROBERT and CATHERINE (WALKER) WAGSTAFF. His father was born in 1808, at Palmyra, N.Y., and was a sailor most of his life. His connection with the marine service of the United States has given his name an historical interest, and it is prominent in the records of the country. He became a lake pilot at an early age, and in 1832 was one of the five whose name was mentioned in the Chicago Inter-Ocean, of December, 1883, as knowing the route from Buffalo to Chicago. In that year, during the progress of the Black Hawk war, CAPTAIN WAGSTAFF piloted the United States squadron from Buf- falo to Chicago, which conveyed supplies to the army of General Scott. He was on board the schooner "United States." In 1836 he was made commander of the "Julia Palmer," the first full-rigged ship on the lakes. She was lost in 1874 on Lake Superior. At the time of his death, which took place in December, 1864, he was Harbor Master at Washington, D.C. He was Harbor Master at Tampico during the war with Mexico, and was the first Harbor Pilot of the Harbor of San Francisco, Cal., receiving his appointment from the Governor. MR. WAGSTAFF was at school some years in Detroit, and at the age of 17 years he went to New York and shipped on a vessel bound for California, where he remained on the Pacific coast four years. He also went to Australia, China, and the waters of the North and South Pacific Oceans. He was absent from 1853 to 1857, and made the passage around the globe. In 1857 he shipped on the ship "Ellen Foster," bound from San Francisco to China, returning thence to Boston with a cargo of sugar and manilla. In 1858 he sailed on the "C. J. Kershaw," the first vessel which sailed from the fresh water lakes to Liverpool and return. He came back as her first mate. He went again to Liverpool in 1859, and, altogether, has made nine trips across the ocean to Liverpool. When the war of the Rebellion broke out he was appointed master's mate on the schooner "Sydney C. Jones," in the fleet under COMMODORE PORTER, and was in action at the capture of New Orleans. He went afterwards to Vicksburg and thence to the James River, where he was in the service at the time of the retreat of McCLELLAN. He went thence to Baltimore, and on to Alexandria, where the schooner was stationed as guard-ship. While there he was promoted as Acting Ensign and ordered to report on board the steam- ship "Florida," under orders to join the Wilmington blockading squadron, where he assisted in the capture of the rebel schooner "Hattie." He took command as prize master and took her to the Port of New York. On his return, he was transferred to the gunboat "Morse," stationed at Yorktown, Va., where he participated in a severe engagement at White House, on the Pamunkey River, where the rebels made an attack on SHERIDAN'S baggage trains. He was again transferred to the gunboat "Tulip" on the Potomac River, and three days later she exploded, while on her way to Washington for repairs. Her crew consisted of 69 men, of whom MR. WAGSTAFF and two others alone escaped. He was in the water nearly two hours, sustaining himself with a stick under each arm. He was picked up by an army transport and was disabled about a month. In the fall of 1864 he was transferred to the United States store-ship "Guard," which was attached to the European squadron and spent two years in foreign waters, where he visited the ports of Lisbon, Portugal, Carthagena and Gibraltar, Spain; Spezzia, Italy, and Mahon on the island of Majorca, whence he returned to the United States, when he was honorably discharged from the Government service, Sept. 11, 1867, at New York. He then became connected with the lake service, and for eight years was pilot on the revenue cutter, "W. P. Fessen- den." He was a sailor on the lakes until October, 1882, when he acceded to his present position. MR. WAGSTAFF was married in Boston, June 19, 1865, to KATE B. NIAL. She is the daughter of HUGH and E. She was born Nov. 16, 1839, in Canada. Their children are — ROBERT D., who was born Sept. 5, 1867, at Buffalo; FRANCIS was born in Detroit March 14, 1870, and died in Detroit Nov. 3, 1873; CHARLES B. was born in Detroit, Nov. 4, 1874. MR. WAGSTAFF belongs to the Order of Masonry and to the A. O. U. W. =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================