Baltis K. Wintermute was born in Sussex County, New Jersey on May 23, 1832 to Charles and Margaret (Keen) Wintermute. He moved to Muscatine, Iowa, to build a homestead for his future wife, Lidia Anne Martin, in 1853. He returned to New Jersey to marry Lidia and the couple returned to Iowa in 1860. Baltis enlisted in the 11th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company H on October 10, 1861 and served until the close of the war. After the war, Baltis became a dairy farmer, making butter to sell at the market in Sweetland Township near Muscatine, Iowa. He gave up farming around 1885 to go into business as a grocer. The couple moved to 412 Corner Park Avenue in the town of Muscatine. Lidia passed away on September 11, 1898 and Baltis passed away on April 4, 1907.

Baltis K. Wintermute was a soldier in the 11th Iowa Infantry Regiment. The Regiment was organized at Davenport, Iowa September 28 to October 18, 1861. The group boarded the steamer Jennie Whipple on November 16, 1861 and headed for St. Louis, arriving there on November 19. They went into training at Camp Benton Barracks. On December 8, 1861 the regiment left Benton Barracks and went to Jefferson City, then up the Missouri river to Boonville, Missouri. The regiment was active in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion's Hill, and Big Black River Crossing. The regiment also participated in the siege of Vicksburg, battles of Atlanta, Jonesboro, River's Bridge, and Bentonville. The regiment was mustered out July 15, 1865. It lost during service 5 officers, 86 enlisted men from battle and 259 from disease.