Rollie Ross Wagstaff was born on 4 Apr 1924 in Topeka, Kansas to Rollie Ross Wagstaff and Nellie Vall Nye. As a boy he became interested in radio, he worked as a teen in a radio store in Topeka. In 1943 he enlisted as a private in the Marines rising to sergeant by war's end in 1945. Shortly afterwards he married the Salt Lake Mormon girl Dorothy Lois Rosenvall on 23 Oct 1943 at Treasure Island, California. After his release they lived in Salt Lake and had 2 children before she developed MS and died within 3 months.

Rollie had 3 sisters - Betty Jane Wagstaff, June Winifred Wagstaff, and Dorothy M Wagstaff. Betty attended Kansas State University where she was a popular scholar and athlete. June attended Washburn College at age 16. She worked as an elevator operator until she landed a job as an art teacher. June married Lee Robinson and lived in Sublette County, Wyoming where she is buried in the Bondurant Cemetery. So far I know little about Dorothy.

Rollie Ross Wagstaff Sr was born about 1875 in Garnett, Kansas to William Paul Wagstaff and Ruth Ann Cook. He moved to Topeka where he was a salesman. He must have been successful to send 2 children to college at the depths of the Depression. He died in Sonoma, California in 1959. Both he and Nellie are buried in Good Hope Cemetery in Topeka.

William Paul Wagstaff, was born on 22 May 1834 in Guernsey County, Ohio to Robert Arnold Wagstaff and Sarah Duncan. Some people claim he was born in Harrison County, Ohio. It is a tribute to him that contrary to the usual practice of appointing officers from those of social standing, he as a farmer after enlisting as a private was elected to be a 2nd Lieutenant and later through his own efforts became a captain. He fought at Vicksburg and went with Sherman to the sea. At some point he was wounded. After returning to Ohio he became a successful harness maker and merchant. Later he moved to Garnett, Kansas where his business thrived. His massive granite headstone must have cost over $25,000 in today's money.

William's ancestors received military land in Ohio so there must be some veteran stories. According to some pedigrees the family descends from a William Wagstaff in Potton, Bedfordshire, England and I come from his brother John. All this is murky, genealogist have been disputing it for decades.