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Joseph Warren Metteer

Birth	:	7 Feb 1870 California, USA
Death	:	14 May 1952 Lake County, California, USA
Burial	:	Live Oak Cemetery, Live Oak, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.2768784, -121.6790924
Plot	:	Sect 2 Lot 6 Space D
Description	:	Joseph Warren Metteer and his wives, (1) Minnie May Mills and (2) Minnie Alice Moore: Source: gassd11 The following information [is] from letters by Robert Warren Metteer, Ethel Leona Metteer Glenn, and Mr. and Mrs. George Henry Metteer ... July 1963. Minnie May Mills was the eldest of six children. She had a sister Myrtle, three brothers and another sister. Her father passed away in 1883, shortly before the youngest child, a girl, was born. This youngest sister of Minnie May... Read More	Joseph Warren Metteer and his wives, (1) Minnie May Mills and (2) Minnie Alice Moore: Source: gassd11 The following information [is] from letters by Robert Warren Metteer, Ethel Leona Metteer Glenn, and Mr. and Mrs. George Henry Metteer ... July 1963. Minnie May Mills was the eldest of six children. She had a sister Myrtle, three brothers and another sister. Her father passed away in 1883, shortly before the youngest child, a girl, was born. This youngest sister of Minnie May Mills died at the age of two from spinal meningitis. In her mid-teens, Minnie started working in various homes helping mothers and taking care of children. While working for a family in Live Oak, she became acquainted with George Baxter Metteer, (Joseph Warren's brother), and Jessie M. Moore. She was working for a family in Live Oak, when Charles Henry and Mary Jane Metteer gave a surprise 21st birthday party for their son Joseph. Minnie was invited to the party and it was on February 7, 1891 that she and Joseph met. Seven months later they were married at the Moncur Hotel in Yuba City. The Moncur family had a large wedding cake made for the occasion and two of their children, Mary and Hugh Moncur, stood as witnesses. Although Minnie had her hands full raising a large family, she did enjoy dancing. During their early-married life, Joe, as he was known, played the base violin in a dance orchestra and Minnie used to go with him to the dances. After their marriage, Joe worked at farming for a number of years but finally gave this up. About the year 1905 he and Minnie took their family to Hammonton, California where he started working as an oiler on the gold dredgers. He worked on the dredgers for about five years, moving from Hammonton to Marigold, California, when the dredges were moved. Joe was a dredge master when he left this type of work about 1910. Joe enjoyed hunting and it was during this period that he often took his dogs and went coon hunting at night. He was a good sportsman and hunter, and always had a string of coon dogs. He used a horn, fashioned from a cow's horn, to call his dogs together. His eldest daughter, Ethel, enjoyed coon hunting also and would accompany her father whenever any of the other men's wives went along. After Ethel's marriage to George Glenn, George also hunted with his father-in-law. One evening in January 1913, Joe and George Glenn were hunting when his dogs routed a big bobcat. There was quite a fight, but the bobcat was killed. It is interesting to note an article, entitled "Fifty Years Ago" that appeared in the Independent Herald Newspaper of Yuba City in 1963. The article reads as follows: "The big dogs of Joe Metter (not misspelled name) of Live Oak had a hard tussle with a bob cat on the Yuba River bottoms last night and killed the big cat which was of the lynx species and a hard customer in a scrap." It was a few months after this, in July 1913, when the family mourned the passing of their youngest son, Earl Edward, who died of Scarlet Fever. After leaving the dredgers, Joe and Minnie took their family to Marysville where he started drilling water wells. Joe had that uncanny knack of being able to witch a well and although he could use almost any kind of a rod, he preferred a limber, fresh cut, green willow fork. Although scientifically unprovable (as the writer can attest) he could not only find water, but could actually tell how far below the surface it was. He would hold the fork of the willow in his hand, the single end pointing straight ahead. Holding the fork in this manner, he would walk over the ground until the fork started moving sideways. This was the indication of water below. When the sideward motion stopped, the willow would start bobbing up and down, each bob, indicating a foot below the surface to the water. As if this ability wasn't enough, if there were multiple strata of water below the surface, the bobbing would stop after counting the number of feet to the level of the first strata and then start bobbing again indicating the number of feet to the second. He could tell from the feel of the bobbing willow which strata contained the most water and would drill to that depth. Although it may have been scientifically unsound, he was highly successful in locating and drilling for water. Joe and Minnie separated in 1915 and were divorced in 1916. During this period, Joe again took up farming in an area on the southeast side of Marysville known as Shimpville. After their divorce Minnie May, with her youngest daughter Mariette, moved to Prescott, Arizona where they lived for a while with another daughter Lutie (Lucretia) and husband, John Samuel Kirk. Thereafter, Minnie and Mariette moved to Los Angeles, where Minnie worked as a Nurses Aid during the influenza epidemic. It was during this epidemic that she and her daughter were stricken themselves and hospitalized. Joe continued farming for several years after he and Minnie separated. He had always been an extrovert and made friends very easily. He also had a very subtle sense of humor and enjoyed a good practical joke. About 1919, while ranching at Shimpville, he planted part of the field in watermelon. His youngest son, George Henry, had some colored friends at school and one day these friends approached him about getting a watermelon from his Dad. Young George said he thought his Dad would probably give them some and shortly thereafter three colored boys rode out on their bicycles. After introducing his friends to his Dad, the boys asked if they could each have a watermelon. Joe, in all seriousness, said that they would have to take six watermelons apiece or none at all! Although Joe didn.t let his humor show, he was having a tremendous time watching the three boys try to figure out how they could even carry six watermelons apiece, let alone ride a bicycle with them. Eventually, he said they didn't have to take them all at once, so the boys with two watermelons apiece in a sack, made three trips to Marysville and back so that each took six watermelons. This was great fun for Joe, but his humor was lost on the boys. About 1918 Minnie May and Mariette returned to Marysville and Joe and Minnie attempted reconciliation. The attempt did not work out and a few years later in about 1920, Minnie May married Mr. George Hall. They moved to San Diego where George Hall owned a garage and were later joined by Robert W. Metteer (Minnie and Joseph's son) and his family as well as Roberts's brother. Henry Metteer. Things apparently did not go well with Minnie and George Hall for they separated in 1922 at the time of the death of her daughter's (Lorena) husband, Benjamin Manford. She returned to Marysville and later moved to Sacramento. Sometime in the mid 1920's after George Hall had passed away, Minnie May married a Mr. George Simmons. Unfortunately, this marriage did not last more than a few months and she never remarried. In about 1920 Joseph Warren met a widowed woman, Mrs. Minnie Alice (Moore) Conley. It is interesting to note that while Joe was courting Minnie Conley, she was also being courted by his son, George Henry's future father-in-law, John Stephen Blackie. Joe won the lady's hand and they were married about 1921. However, he and John Stephen Blackie continued to be close friends and it was through this relationship that George Henry met John Blackie's daughter, Lorraine. Minnie Alice (Conley) Metteer was the matron of the Yuba County Detention Home when she and Joe were married. After their wedding, he gave up the farm that he was leasing in Shimpville and moved to the detention home with his wife. Shortly after their marriage, Joe, along with Minnie Alice's brothers (I think) became interested in a mining venture in Texas. He and Minnie moved to Texas for a short while, but the mining venture did not work out and they returned to Marysville. After their return, Minnie was again appointed Matron of the Yuba County Detention Home. Minnie Alice continued to manage the Detention Home and Joe returned to well drilling. In addition to his well drilling activities, he built several well drilling rigs for others and later built house trailers for a short time in the late 1930's. Well drilling was his principle interest, however, and he continued to do this type of work. Minnie Alice had almost as large a family by her marriage to Mr. Conley as did Joseph Warren. Her children were Clarence, Frank, Earl, Everett, Lloyd and one girl, Myrtle. She was a fine Christian woman of the Assembly of God faith and she and Joe were very happy together. Although Joe was quite busy bringing in water wells, he was just too generous and easy going to be a good businessman. As a result, although always busy, he never really had any money to show for it. Minnie Alice Metteer passed away in April 1945. Thereafter, Joe lived briefly with a few of his children. His interest in well drilling and hunting continued unabated. In about 1948, while living with the family of his youngest son, George Henry, he and George as well as a few others went deep hunting in Lake County, California. Although they didn't get a buck, Joe had little trouble tramping through the brush and hills, despite the fact that he was 78 years old. He left the George Metteer's for a year or so, but returned in late 1950. Always, self-reliant and not wanting to be a burden to others, he lived in his house trailer, which was parked beside the George Metteer's residence. It was while living here in 1952 that he suffered a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. The following day he appeared to be making a good recover and had his old sense of humor. It was during a visit that morning by George and his wife Lorraine as well as his daughters Mariette, Norma and Lucretia that he looked at Lorraine and with that characteristic twinkle in his eye, said to the others, "You have to watch out for her, she'll make you wipe dishes!" The family returned to George and Lorraine's home and that afternoon, Joseph Warren passed away. After her divorce from George Simmons, Minnie May lived with various of her children, principally Bob and Retta Metteer, Irvin and Norma (Metteer) Rumble and George and Lorraine Metteer. In 1933, she moved to live with Adam and Mariette (Metteer) Schmidt. Although living with other of her children for brief periods thereafter, she lived principally with Mariette until her passing in 1951. ericnmarysadded this 22 Jun 2009

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Joseph Warren Metteer's memorial?
Joseph Warren Metteer's memorial is located at: Live Oak Cemetery, Live Oak, Sutter County, USA.
When did Joseph Warren Metteer death?
Joseph Warren Metteer death on 14 May 1952 in Lake County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Joseph Warren Metteer's memorial?
Latitude: 39.2768784
Longitude: -121.6790924

Family Members:

Parent

Charles Henry Metteer

(1831 - 1925)

Mary Jane Donaldson Metteer

(1842 - 1913)

Spouse

Minnie May Mills Simmons

(1873 - 1951)

Minnie Alice Moore Conley Metteer

(1875 - 1945)

Siblings

Mariette Metteer Hewitt

(1865 - 1930)

George Baxter Metteer

(1872 - 1943)

Minnie Gertrude Metteer

(1876 - 1878)

Charles Henry Metteer Jr.

(1880 - 1888)

Thomas Humboldt Boynton

(1860 - 1920)

(unknow - unknow)

Children

Robert Warren Metteer

(1894 - 1964)

Lucretia Metteer Kirk

(1897 - 1964)

George H Metteer

(1907 - 1988)

Earl Howard Metteer

(1908 - 1913)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Live Oak Cemetery
Live Oak, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2768784, -121.6790924

2. Muslim Cemetery of Northern California
Live Oak, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2783620, -121.6799010

3. North Butte Cemetery
Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2924995, -121.8067017

4. Gridley-Biggs Cemetery
Gridley, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3793983, -121.6877975

5. Pugh Cemetery
Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2505989, -121.8086014

6. Sutter Cemetery
Sutter, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1697006, -121.7438965

7. Marysville Cemetery
Marysville, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1621367, -121.5889756

8. Marysville Jewish Cemetery
Marysville, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1615300, -121.5879100

9. Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery
Marysville, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1591310, -121.5908240

10. Praise Chapel Mausoleum
Yuba City, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1383610, -121.6127890

11. Sutter-Yuba Memorial Park
Yuba City, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1384080, -121.6123760

12. Yuba City Cemetery
Yuba City, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1366010, -121.6128270

13. Androus Family Pioneer Cemetery
Iowa City, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2936100, -121.4639800

14. Honcut Cemetery
Honcut, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3410988, -121.4781036

15. Stohlman Cemetery
Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1516991, -121.8261032

16. Noyesburg Cemetery
Sutter, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2380370, -121.8982840

17. Hamilton Cemetery
Oroville, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4539440, -121.6473150

18. Browns Valley Cemetery
Browns Valley, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2332100, -121.4079400

19. Brower Espy Gravesite
Bangor, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4077340, -121.4558840

20. Sierra View Memorial Park
Olivehurst, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.0872002, -121.5363998

21. Memorial Park Cemetery
Oroville, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4777985, -121.5505981

22. Peoria Memorial Park
Browns Valley, Yuba County, USA
Coordinate: 39.2831001, -121.3891983

23. Oroville Chinese Cemetery
Oroville, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4876700, -121.5742200

24. Meridian Cemetery
Meridian, Sutter County, USA
Coordinate: 39.1364021, -121.9170151