Edgar Beach Van Winkle (1842-1920), civil engineer, was born in New York City. He was the son of Edgar Simeon Van Winkle and Hannah Starr Beach, who was born in Goshen, Conn. Edgar Van Winkle received the degree of A.B. from Union College in 1860 and the degree of C.E. from Union College in 1861. He married Elizabeth Mitchell, daughter of Judge William Mitchell, in 1876. They had five children: Mary Starr Van Winkle, Elizabeth Mitchell Van Winkle, Capt. Edgar Beach Van Winkle, Jr., Grace Louisa Van Winkle and William Mitchell Van Winkle. His wife died in 1894. He married Mary Flower Speiden, daughter of William Speiden of New York, in 1899. As a civil engineer, Beach was employed on the extension to the Croton water works for the City of New York, 1861-1862. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and was promoted to captain. In 1865, he resumed professional civil engineering work for the city of New York. He was a member of the firm of Croes, Church & Van Winkle. From 1878 to 1884, he was chief engineer of the Department of Public Works, New York City. He was also employed at various times by the Erie railroad and the Shepaug Valley railroad. He was involved with numerous professional, military, and civic organizations including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S., and the Litchfield Village Improvement Society.

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