Colonel Edward W. Wynkoop Obituary
Colonel Edward W. Wynkoop.

Colonel Edward W. Wynkoop.
------------
He Came of a Distinguished Family
and Early Settled in Colorado.

    Colonel Edward W. Wynkoop, who died last Saturday at Santa Fe, was a historic character in Colorado. He was one of the first settlers in Denver, arriving here in the summer of 1858, before a house had been erected in the place and when the only points having names were Pike's peak, Long's peak, Cherry creek, Fontaine Qui Bouille and the forts that had been established by the government or the fur companies. 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 a leader in everything.

    About the time of the heated political feeling which preceded the civil war he was an 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 accepted 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 the world, which fact caused the seconds to sensibly bring about apologies and a reconciliation.

    When the war broke out and the First Colorado was organized, Wynkoop enlisted 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 until 1876. Then he went to the Black Hills, and had been a resident of the West ever since. He was a timber agent in New Mexico, while Mr. Teller was secretary of the interior and had since been warden of the New Mexico penitentiary.

    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 convictions and was not afraid to express them.

    Colonel Wynkoop was born in 1836, and was consequently 55 years old. He came of one of the oldest families in American history. His ancestors came to New Amsterdam in 1816 [sic], and for 200 years before that had been a prominent family in Holland. There is property in New York and Pennsylvania now which has never been out of the family ownership since it was ceded to the original American colonists. Colonel Wynkoop's was essentially a family of soldiers and miners. Every member of the family name who was old enough and not too old served in the army during the late war.

    Judge Henry Wynkoop, his grandfather, was the first iron miner in the United States and was one of Washington's staff, and was a member 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 entered the late war as colonel of the Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania, having come out a brigadier general. General Francis Wynkoop, who died from the effects of a bullet wound, was the founder and editor of the Miners' Journal, the first paper devoted to mining ever published in the United States.


Source:

Author unknown, [although probably Frank M. Wynkoop]
"Colonel Edward W. Wynkoop"
The Denver Republican, Denver, Co.
Monday, 14 September, 1891: Page 2, Column 5

Created March 29, 2001; Revised August 27, 2002
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