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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Mr. Robert Cameron
Mr. Robert Cameron was born in 1836, at Rannoch, Perthshire, Scotland. He emigrated to the United States when a young man, and on the outbreak of the Civil War, joined the 3rd Regiment Missouri Volunteers, and fought in the Union cause till the fall of Vicksburg, in 1863., before which he had attained the rank of lieutenant. At the close of the war, he returned to the Old Country, and was married to Miss Catherine MacGregor, of Perth, and left with his wife for New Zealand in 1864, in the ship “Paria.” He engaged in farming in Southland for some time, and tried his luck on the goldfields at Switzer's (Waikaia), where he was manager for the Independent Water Race Company. Later, he commenced business as a general storekeeper in Winton, and took an active part in public affairs. He contested the Wallace election in 1875 in the Liberal interest, in opposition to Mr. C. Basstian, who was returned by a narrow majority. Mr. Cameron moved to Invercargill in 1875, and in 1877 was appointed stationmaster at Waipahi, where he held office until 1880, when he died, leaving a widow, three sons, and four daughters. One of his sons, Mr. Duncan Cameron, has been successively stationmaster at Dipton, Makarewa, Otautau, and Kingston, and is now (1905) in charge at Rakaia, in Canterbury.