By the early 1800's, several wealthy New York City residents began to build summer estates in West Islip. One of those men was Dr. Alfred Wagstaff, who was born in New York City in 1804. His father, David Wagstaff, was an English immigrant who made a fortune as a notable merchant.
After attending Columbia College Medical School, Dr. Wagstaff started his own practice in New York City. He also traveled extensively throughout Europe and managed the finances of his privileged family.
By 1859, Wagstaff had purchased a large portion of West Islip land on both sides of what is now Montauk Highway (at that time it was South Country Road). The land was alongside a pond -which formed Willets Creek-so when he built his summer estate he named it Tahlulah, an Indian word for "leaping water." Wagstaff was the largest landowner on Long Island until the Vanderbilts arrived 20 years later. His land stretched from the creek all the way to where Howell's Road is today.
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He moved to West Islip permanently in 1870 and spent his days fishing with his family, riding one of his horses or at the newly opened South Side Sportsmen's Club in Islip until his death in 1878. His family continued to reside in West Islip.
Wagstaff left behind his wife Sarah Platt Dubois, and their four children: Sarah, Alfred Jr., Cornelius and Mary. Eventually, all of the children had homes built on the Wagstaff land. Alfred Jr. and his wife, Mary A. Barnard, named their home Opekeepsing, the Indian word for "safe harbor," which is where they raised four sons and a daughter, Mary, who was married at Tahlulah in 1914.
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Alfred Jr. was the most famous of the Wagstaff children. He was born in 1844 in New York City and was about to attend his father's alma mater, Columbia, when the Civil War started. At just 19-years-old, he was commissioned as a Colonel in the NYS National Guard. In the next two years, he volunteered for service under the Federal flag, rising to Lieutenant Colonel, which led to his life long title as Col. Wagstaff.
When the war ended, he completed both college and law school at Columbia. Even though he went on to become a partner in the New York City based firm of North, Ward and Wagstaff, he also pursued politics. He served as New York State Assemblymen in Manhattan from 1867-1873, then Senator from 1876-1878. He also served as Clerk of the Appellate Division of the New York Supreme Court while also serving as president of the S.P.C.A until his death in 1921.
Today, Wagstaff Lane and Tahlulah Lane are reminders of the Wagstaff family's early contribution to West Islip and New York State's history.
Trivia Question: Col. Wagstaff was one of only two Great South Bay residents to hold political office. Do you know who the other one was? The answer will be revealed in next week's edition of The History of West Islip.
