MATTHEW CALVIN WYNKOOP, president of the First National Bank of Plumville, who has been associated with the business and especially the financial interests of that borough for some years, was born on a farm in South Mahoning township, Indiana Co., Pa., Nov. 26, 1859, son of Matthew and Margaret (Morrow) Wynkoop.

    Matthew Wynkoop, father of Matthew C. Wynkoop, was a farmer and land owner of South Mahoning township, where he operated a farm of seventy-six acres, but did not live long to enjoy the fruits of his labors, passing away in 1860, when still a young man. He was a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and was buried in the cemetery in Plumville. He married Margaret Morrow, daughter of Andrew Morrow, of South Mahoning township, and they had three children, Matthew Calvin, and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Wynkoop was married (second) to Isaac Good, who is also deceased, and she now makes her home in South Mahoning Township.

    Matthew Calvin Wynkoop, was but a little over a year old when he lost his father. He grew up on the home farm with his mother and his only opportunities for acquiring an education were such as the local schools afforded. At the age of seventeen years he left the parental roof, determined to make his own way in the world. Going to the State of Michigan, he secured employment as a farm laborer at a salary of fifteen dollars per month. In 1878 he went West to Colorado, and locating in Leadville worked in the smelters and followed prospecting and mining until 1881. In that year he went to Arizona and there continued mining and prospecting, but a short period later removed to what was then the territory of Washington. There he took up a government land grant on Puget sound, homesteading it for seven years, and during this time worked at farming, cultivated his own land, and also engaged in lumbering in woods on contract work. These were busy years, and in 1890 he was able to dispose of his holdings advantageously, then going to central California, where he followed grain and cattle ranching in Fresno and Tulare counties for two and a half years.

    In 1893 the call of his native State proved too strong to be resisted, and Mr. Wynkoop returned to Pennsylvania and engaged in carpentering at Johnstown for eighteen months, following which he went to Armstrong county and for seven years operated a coal bank in connection with carrying on agricultural pursuits.

    On leaving that section he came to Plumville, and here, near the home of his boyhood, he established himself in business in 1905 as the proprietor of a furniture and house furnishing establishment. In that same year he erected a two-story building, in which he continued to carry on a successful business to the present time. Mr. Wynkoop has had a wide and varied experience, which has not only made him thoroughly conversant with business methods in this and other parts of the country, but has given him an insight into human nature that has been of great value to him in his dealings with his fellow men. Enterprising and progressive, shrewd and capable, his connection with any enterprise is a guarantee of its solidity, and the confidence in which he is held by the people of his commmunity has enabled him to do much to add to Plumville's importance as a financial and commercial center. He takes an active interest in all matters that affect Plumville or its people and has been foremost in promoting and supporting movements for the general welfare. Mr. Wynkoop was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Plumville, which was founded in 1907, and of which he has been president ever since. He has done his part in encouraging education in this section, serving as school director of South Mahoning township for some years, and also holdiing a like office in the borough of Plumville, where he was a secretary of the board. His fraternal connection is with the Odd Fellows. A Lutheran in his religious belief, he has been active in church work, and for seventeen years was superintendent and a teacher in the Sunday school.

    While living in Puget Sound, Wash., Mr. Wynkoop was married (first) to Frances Norton, of that state, and one child was born to this union, Charles C., who is now in the employ of the New York Central Railroad Company, at McKeesport, PA.; he married Edna Martin, of Pittsburg. Mr. Wynkoop's first wife died and in 1894 he married, in Armstrong county, to Mrs. Hannah Charlotte (Stuchul) Mikesell, who was born in South Mahoning township, daughter of Robert H. and Hannah D. (Thompson) Stuchul, and was the widow of Joseph Mikesell, of Armstrong county. Two children were born to this union, John C. and Inez C. Mrs. Wynkoop had one child by her former marriage, Robert S. Mikesell, of Pittsburgh, who married Mary Fetters, of Smicksburg and has two children, LeVerne and Dean.

Source:

Stewart, Joshua Thompson, Indiana County, Pennsylvania: Her People, Past and Present, Embracing a History of the County/ Comp. by Prof. J. T. Stewart, and a Genealogical and Biographical Record of Representative Families, Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1913, Volume 1, Pp. 664-665

    This information was sent to me by Cate Read of Houston TX, the grand-daughter of Charles Calvin Wynkoop, (Matthew Calvin's son), who told me, "I got this via email from Rosemarie Beatty, a distant cousin to the Pittsburgh cousins (Marty and Dave Matthews, Charlie's daughter's sons) on their mother's side. (If that makes any sense to you!) Anyway, Rosemarie has been hand-typing this out of an old Indiana County, PA history."

    Cate would be glad of any additional information concerning Matthew Calvin Wynkoop, his son Charles Calvin Wynkoop or any of their ancestors and/or descendants. She can be reached at [email protected].

    I want to extend my grateful thanks to both Cate and Rosemarie for sharing their ongoing quest with me. It's been a great experience and I want to wish them the best of luck with the hunt.

    All my best,

    Chris