Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-09-17
THE LATE COL. WYNK0OP.
A Bit of Interesting History Respecting
His Early Career and Ancestry.

Says the Denver Republican: Col.
Edward W. Wynkoop, who died last Fri
day at Santa Fe, was historic character
IN Colorado. He was one of the first set
tiers in Denver, arriving here in the
summer of 1858, before house had been
erected in the place and when the only
points having names were Pixies peak,
Longs peak, Cherry creek, Fontane Qui
Bouille and the forts that had been estab.
lished by the government of the fur COM
panies. He was one of the original town
company of Denver, Wynkoop street
having been named for him, and in those
early days he was prominently connected
with or leader in everything.
About the time of the heated political
feeling which preceded the civil war he
was 81 outspoken unionist, and was not
at all backward in defense of his belief.
In the famous duel in this city between
Lew Bliss and DR.: Stone, which resulted
in the death of Stone, Wynkoop acted as
Bliss second. Immediately afterwards
Wynkoop was challenged by one OF the
fire-eaters, and the challenge was accept
ed and revolvers chosen as the weapons,
the conditions being that both parties
should begin firing at the word and
fire until one or the other was dead.
Wynkoop was one OF the finest pistol
shots in tie world, which fact caused the
seconds to sensibly bring about apologies
and reconciliation.
When the war broke out and the 1st
Colorado was organized, Wynkoop enlist
ed and became captain of Company A.
He served in the army until 1866, rising
to the rank of colonel. After leaving the
service he went to Pennsylvania, where
he engaged in the iron and coal mining
business, and remained there until 1876.
Then he went to the Black Hills, and had
been resident of the west ever since. He
was timber agent in New Mexico, while
Mr.. Teller was secretary of the interior,
and had since been warden of the New
Mexico penitentlary.
In 1861 he was married to Louisa Brown,
in this city, who still survives him. No
man had stronger friends or stronger
enemies; but he had the respect of the
latter. He had the courage OF his convic-
tons and was not afraid to express them.
Col. Wynkoop was born in 1886, and
"do Consequently % years Olu. he Calue
of one of the oldest families in American
history. His ancestors came to New
Amsterdam in 1916, and for 200 years be-
fore that had been prominent family in
Holland. There is property in New York
and Pennsyl ania now which has never
been out of the family ownership since it
was coded to the original American colon
lists. Col. Wynkoop's was essentially a
family of soldiers and miners. Every
member of the family name who was old
enough and not too old s rived in the
army during the late war.
Judge Henry Wynkoop, his grand
father, was the first iron miner in the
United States and was one of the men,
bers of Washington s staff, and was mem
Der of the continental congress and one of
the early United States judges. Two of his
brothers achieved distinction, Francis
Wynkoop having been a brigadier general
in the Mexican war and George, who en-
cred the late waras colonel of the 9Sth
Pennsylvania, having come out briga-
der general. Gen. Francis Wynkoop,
who died from the effects of a bull
let wound, was the founder and editor of
the Miners Journal, the first paper devot.
ed to mining ever published in the United
States