Minerd.com Biography of William and Minerva "Bell" (Younkin) Muter of Battle Ground, IN

Minerva 'Bell' (Younkin) Muter
(1834-1898)

She resided as a 17-year-old in 1850 with her parents in Fairfield Township, Butler County, OH.

Then in 1853, at the age of 19, Minerva wed 23-year-old William Muter (June 8, 1830-1902), son of Robert and Sarah (Brooks) Muter, the father an immigrant from Scotland and the mother from London, England.

The Muters put down roots near Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, IN. William generated income as a farmer and butcher.

William made news in the local newspaper in August 1896 for a "very laughable incident... at the foot of State street hill," said the Lafayette Journal and Courier. He was "driving a cow across the levee, when the animal became confused and going up the few stair steps in the rear of John Lannert's tin store walked through the store, and out the front entrance to Main street levee. Messrs. Dienhart and Burton were in the room at the time, and were the victims of a severe scare by the cow. It was very amusing, and at the time was witnessed by quite a crowd that had collected."

In late 1899, having rented the residence of Samuel Klinger at Ash Grove, William commissioned a new family house to be built nearby, constructed by W.C. Brown. The work was completed just before Christmas. But by June of the following year, 1900, he had moved back to Battle Ground with plans to open a butcher shop.

On the tragic day of June 6, 1902, William was killed in a freak lightning strike. The grisly details were reported in the next day's Journal and Courier:

A related story in the Lafayette Call said that "His hair and beard was singed, and the shoe was bursted at the point where the current left his foot and entered the ground... He was industrious by nature and well known in the community." E.F. Clark of Battle Ground provided information for the death certificate.

Sadly, having become senile, Minerva spent her final years in the Tippecanoe County Infirmary. After contracting pneumonia, she passed away there on Oct. 20, 1908. Burial was in Battle Ground Cemetery. On her death certificate, with Mrs. Charles Cook as informant, the name of her father was incorrectly written as "John Younkins," born in Germany, but her mother properly as "Racheal Dietz." Her name was published by the Lafayette Journal in a list of recently deceased residents.

Daughter Minnie Hayward Muter (1869-1933) was born on March 21, 1869, in Carroll County, IN, the daughter of William H. and Mary E. Hayward.

She became orphaned at age 18 months at the death of her mother, and she was adopted by the Muters. She is known to have attended the Battle Ground Graded School.

They became the parents of eight -- among them Ethel J. Watkins, Clair L. Downs, Avy T. Downs, Theodore Thomas Downs, Shirley M. Puent and Dora Agnes Flack.

Sadly, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on Oct. 30, 1933 and lingered for four days. Death spirited her away on Nov. 3, 1933 in the residence of their daughter Mrs. Flack, two miles east of Battle Ground. The funeral was conducted in the local Methodist Church followed by burial in a local cemetery, and an obituary appearing in the Lafayette Journal and Courier. She was survived by 21 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as half-siblings Mamie Katsblis of Lowell, Harvey Hayward of East Chicago, Bert Hayward of Lafayette, M.F. Hayward of Erie, PA and Moses Hayward of Hammond, IN.

A year later, their offspring held a family reunion at the home of Stewart Flack, where a "basket dinner was served at noon to 33 of the 39 members of the family," reported the Journal and Courier. "The following officers were re-elected for another year, Clair L. Downs, president; Thomas Downs, vice president; Elizabeth Downs, secretary; Stewart Flack, treasurer; and Thelma McNeely, Mildred Downs and Shirley Puent, program committee. A delightful program was given by the children."

Daughter Ethel John Downs (1889-1962) was born on July 17, 1889 in Battle Ground, Tippecanoe County, IN. She spent her lifetime in the community of her birth. Ethel in 1906 married Lewis "Lou" Watkins ( ? - ? ). There were a baker's dozen offspring in this family -- Homer Earl Watkins, Thelma Louise McNeeley Funk, Avy "Elwood" Watkins, Henry Morton "Hank" Watkins, Norwood Watkins, Agnes Rachel Watkins, Glyda "Pied" Doyle Snyder, Marie Donna Mourning, Neva LaVerne Watkins, Norwood Watkins, Joseph Lewis Watkins, Minnie Jane Spurgeon and Myrtle Garrison. The family dwelling-place in 1911 was in the Rabbit Town section of Rensselaer, Jasper County, IN. Tragedy befell two of their young children. In May 1911, three-year-old son Avy Elwood ingested a toxic quantity of liquor in the household and died of what a physician called "acute alcohol poisoning." A story in the Jasper County Democrat said that "It is common report in that part of town that there has been considerable drinking going on at the Watkins home, and it is probably the child got hold of some of the liquor and drank it, causing its death. At least this is a charitable view to take, as it does not seem possible that any one would purposely give whisky to a child of such tender years." Then in April 1930, with the family now at 1014 Washington Street, Lafayette, four-year-old daughter Neva contracted diphtheria and died in St. Elizabeth Hospital. Her obituary was printed in the Lafayette Journal and Courier and the Lafayette Leader. The Watkinses were charter members of Grace Bible Church, and Ethel belonged to the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She succumbed to the spectre of death at age 72 on Jan. 3, 1962. Burial was in Battle Ground Cemetery.

Son Clair Landis Downs (1893-1960) was born on July 7, 1893 in Otterbein, IN. He was married twice. On Oct. 8, 1914, he first wed Alice McCay ( ? -1953), with them exchanging vows at Rochester, IN. The couple resided in Rochester, IN and then in 1921 moved to Mishawaka, St. Joseph County, IN. Their two children were Hugh Robert Downs and Mrs. Darrell K. Moore Jr. Sadly, Alice died on Jan. 8, 1953. Seven months later, on Aug. 7, 1953, not content to be alone, he married again to Georgian Jewell ( ? - ? ), with nuptials held in Mishawaka. She brought three stepchildren into the union -- Mrs. George Partridge, Mrs. Omer DeMaegd and Roy Jewell. Their home was located at 724 West Broadway. Clair was employed for 18 years by Oliver Corporation, retiring in about 1960. At the age of 67, having endured hardening of the arteries for years, Clair suffered a massive heart attack and passed away in South Bend's Osteopathic Hospital on Dec. 18, 1960. His pallbearers included Benjamin Van Tuyle, Edwin Caskey, Allen Stanley, Sherman Gordon, Glenn Seeley and Daniel Wise, with funeral rites held in the First Evangelical Church, by the hand of his pastor, Rev. Wilbur C. Watson. The remains were laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery. The South Bend Tribune ran an obituary.

Son Avy Tuttle Downs (1895-1957) was born on Oct. 31, 1895. At the age of 21, on Oct. 31, 1916, he married 18-year-old Elizabeth "Birdie" Kennedy (1898-1947). The wedding was held in Warren County, IN. The Downs and Kennedy families were close, and Avy's brother Thomas married Birdie's sister Mildred. Three known children of Avy and Birdie were Thomas L. Downs, Don F. Downs and Mary Elizabeth Cox. The federal census of 1920 shows the Downses living under the roof of his parents in Medina, Warren County, with him working as a farm laborer. In 1930, census records place the family in Clarks Hill, Tippecanoe County, with Avy employed as a trucker on the state highway. They relocated to Frankfort, Clinton County, IN by 1933 and were there in 1942 when Avy was required to register for the military draft during World War II. As of 1942, his employer was the Jules Simon Garment Company. Double tragedy plunged the family into mourning twice during the war years. On Oct. 29, 1942, their son Thomas, a staff sergeant in the Army, was killed in fighting in Tunisia. His remains were brought back home to rest for eternity in Bunnell Cemetery in Frankfort. Then on Oct. 8, 1944, their son Don, who had been with the Army since 1939, and had served in Panama for three years, was killed in action in France. In time they moved once more to Colfax, Clinton County, IN. They were members of the Battle Ground Methodist Church. Avy continued to earn a living as a laborer despite having contracted severe rheumatoid arthritis. Sadly, as a resident of Bowles Nursing Home in Clarks Hill, Tippecanoe County, IN, Avy suffered a massive heart attack and passed away on Nov. 24, 1957. Burial was in Bunnell Cemetery in Frankfort. His obituary was published in the Lafayette Journal and Courier.

Son Theodore "Thomas" Downs (1901- ? ) was born in 1901 in Tippecanoe County, IN. He was joined in marriage on June 16, 1923, with Mildred Mabel Kennedy ( ? -1968), originally from Warren County, IN. The two families were close, and Thomas' brother Avy wed Mildred's sister Birdle. A trio of daughters born to the couple were Mrs. Robert Groom, Mrs. Kenneth Decker and Mrs. Glen McKerrow. The Downses lived in Gary, IN early in the marriage. He was employed for many years as a supply clerk. They were in Hobart, IN in 1960-1962 and in about 1965 moved to Port Richey, FL, at an address of 480 Olive Street. They held a membership in the Christian Fellowship Church. At the age of 64, Mildred died on Dec. 16, 1968. Her obituary was printed in the Tampa Tribune. The widowed Thomas lived for another 14 months and moved to 209 East Nebraska Avenue in New Port Richey. He died at age 68 on Feb. 11, 1970.

Daughter Shirley M. Downs ( ? -2000) was born on (?). On Aug. 30, 1930, in Gary, IN, she wed Leonard B. Puent ( ? -1987). Their four offspring included Leonard "Sonny" Puent, Patricia Korzenieewski, Carol Pratt and Gregory John "Jack" Puent. Circa 1933, she made her dwelling-place in Gary, IN. In 1960, her home was in Valparaiso and in 1969 at Crown Point, IN. She is known to have owned the Coffee Cup Restaurant and Shirley's Shop (dresses), both of Griffith, IN. She held a membership in Living Stones Fellowship of Crown Point. The pair marked their 55th wedding anniversary with a party held at the home of their daughter Patti in Crown Point. They were pictured in a related article in the Hammond (IN) Times. Sadly, Leonard died at age 81 on Feb. 19, 1987. His obituary appeared in the Times. In her later years, she resided in the Chicagoland Christian Village. She was swept away into the embrace of the heavenly host at age 86 on April 14, 2000. Her obituary was printed in the Times. She was survived by 15 grandchildren, 39 grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren. Rev. Ronald D. Johnson Sr. presided over the funeral rites, with burial held in Calumet Park Cemetery.

Daughter Dora Agnes Downs (1899-1969) was born in 1899 near Monitor, IN and was raised near Otterbein, then West Point and Rensselaer. She was hired in 1914 to work at the Indiana State Soldiers Home and continued for five years until marriage. On Feb. 26, 1919, she was joined in wedlock with farmer Stewart Flack (Feb. 28, 1891-1937), son of John and Jennie (Stewart) Flack. At the time, Stewart was just a few weeks shy of his 28th birthday. They became the parents of three -- Eva Marie McKee Phipps, Russell Lee Flack and Arthur Stewart Flack. Some years prior to marriage, Stewart is believed to be the same man who was critically wounded in a Halloween 1915 shooting. The Anderson (IN) Herald reported that he had been "in front of the [Clarence] Knowlton home with a party of Halloween merrymakers, ... had not been molesting the Knowton home but some young men a short time before had been throwing rocks at the house. Mrs. Knowlton was in the front yard with a revolver when Flack and his companions approached. She thought it was the same crowd which had stoned her house. One bullet struck Flack in the thigh and was deflected into his intestines... [He] probably will die from his wounds." But he fortunately recovered. In 1933, they dwelled two miles north and east of Battle Ground, IN, a farm where Stewart spent his entire life. The family was plunged into mourning at the death of two-year-old son Russell in 1925. They belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he was a member of the local lodge of the Masons. Stewart was diagnosed with cancer of the rectum. At the age of 46, he died at home on May 11, 1937. Funeral rites were conducted in the family church, by Rev. Carl Bosse, and burial was in Battle Ground Cemetery. Dora survived him by more than three decades.

Daughter Dora Hayward (1870-1939) was born on Sept. 28, 1870 in or near Cairo, Tippecanoe County, IN, the daughter of Willard and Dora (Cook) Hayward. At a young age, she was taken in and raised by the Muters.

Together they produced two sons -- Walter Charles Kolb and Willard "Emerson" Kolb.

The young family settled permanently on a farm five miles northwest of town. A newspaper once called her "a well known resident of the Cairo community northwest of Lafayette." She was a member of the Mount Zion Methodist Church and the Community Home Economics Club of Lafayette.

Sadly, Wilber passed away in 1933. The widowed Dora endured for another six years.

Having been diagnosed with hardening of the arteries, she suffered a cerebral hemorrhage during a visit to her son Walter in Anderson, and there died on May 27, 1939, at the age of 68. The body was shipped back to Lafayette for interment in Grandview Cemetery. Son Walter was the informant for the official Indiana certificate of death. Her obituary appeared in the Anderson Herald.

Son Walter Charles Kolb (1897-1948) was born on June 17, 1897 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe County. He was an alumnus of West Lafayette High School and then served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Once back home, he obtained a degree from Purdue University in 1919. Walter married Marjorie Ellen Baker (1896-1949). They did not reproduce. He became a teacher and in 1920 was hired at Greenfield High School to create a department of vocational agriculture. Then in 1934, he accepted a position with the Anderson (IN) City Schools, teaching vocational agriculture in Anderson High School. Marjorie was active with literary and social clubs in Greenfield and the Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority. One wintry day in Anderson, she slipped and fell on icy pavement and fractured her hip, an injury from which she never fully recovered. In 1942, he joined the Purdue faculty "as a field man in the extension department assigned to work with young people and 4-H Clubs," said the Greenfield (IN) Republican. "He was judged one of the most successful instructors in Vocational Agriculture in the state." He joined the Indiana 4-H Club staff and held memberships in the Scottish Rite, Acacia Fraternity and honorary Alpha Zeta fraternity. For several years, their nephew John Baker dwelled in their household. At the age of 50, while on a statewide round of meetings with 4-H Club leaders, Walter was stricken by a cerebral hemorrhage at the Hotel Lincoln in Indianapolis. He was rushed to Methodist Hospital and died about midnight on March 4, 1948. Burial was in West Lafayette's Grand View Cemetery. The Greenfield Republican published an obituary. Marjorie only survived her spouse by a year. She too was felled by a cerebral hemorrhage and died on March 30, 1949.

Son Willard "Emerson" Kolb (1906-1975) was born on Feb. 18, 1906 in Tippecanoe County, IN. He was an alumnus of Lafayette High School. Willard attended Purdue University before receiving a degre from Northwestern University in Chicago. He was twice-wed. In 1936, he tied the knot with Pearl A. Oliver (1905-1960). Their only daughter was Alice Miller. The pair migrated to Chicago and were there in 1939. By 1948, they had moved to LaGrange, IL. For 37 years, he was employed by Commonwealth Edison Company as a substation operator. Sadness swept over the family at Pearl's death in 1960. After grieving for three years, Emerson was joined in wedlock in 1963 with Olive Lewis ( ? - ? ). He retired from Comm Ed in 1966. His memberships included the Mount Zion United Methodist Church, Octagon lodge of the Masons, High Twelve Club and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Their final address together was at 3016 Covington Street, West Lafayette, IN. Willard published a letter to the editor of the Indianapolis Star in 1975. saying he "Would like to correspond with descendants of my cousins: Clair Landis DOWNS ("Jake"), b. 1893..." The angel of death cleaved him away at age 68, in St. Elizabeth Hospital, on Jan. 18, 1975. His obituary appeared in the Lafayette Journal and Courier. The remains sleep for the ages in Grand View Cemetery, West Lafayette.

Research for this page graciously shared by the late Merrill Vernon Younkin, the late Olive (Rowan) Duff and the late Donna (Younkin) Logan. Map of Fountain and Warren Counties, Indiana, 1865 courtesy Library of Congress