Journal Entries about John Colter - Sept. 6, 1804 to July 15, 1806 - New Haven, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 36.889 W 091° 12.787
15S E 655570 N 4275548
Part of the text inside the John Colter Memorial Shelter.
Waymark Code: WMP1YT
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 06/13/2015
Views: 4
County of marker: Franklin County
Location of marker: Miller St. & Front St., John Colter memorial Shelter, New Haven
Date marker erected: 2003
Marker erected by: Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
Private John Colter
Born about the time of the American Revolution John Colter was enlisted as a private in the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Maysville, Kentucky in October, 1803. He bagan the expedition as a oarsman but because of his skills as a woodsman was relived and became a hunter. Colter also served as a scout, messenger, and was often a friend to the Indians. He remain with the expedition until August, 1806 when he was discharged and returned to the mountains to trap.
Much of what we know about Colter's role in the expedition is recorded in journal entries written by members of the Corps of Discovery
Journal Entries
Ordway, Sept. 6, 1804, "...Colter came to the boat had not found Shannon nor the horses but had killed one buf felow, one elk, 3 deer one wolf 5 turkies and goose one beaver also."
Lewis, Aug. 24, 1805, "... and dispatched Colter on horseback with orders to loose on time reaching me."
Lewis, Sept. 10, 1805, "This evening one of our hunters (Colter) returned accompanied by three men of the Flathead nation who he had met in his excurtion up Travellers rest Creek. On first meeting him the Indians were alarmed and prepared for battle with the bows and arrows, but he soon relieved their fears by laying down his gun and advancing toward them."
Clark, Sept. 27, 1805, "J. Colter returned he found only one of the lost horses, on his way killed a deer, half of which he gave the Indians the other proved nourishing to the sick."
Lewis, June 5, 1806, "Colter and Bratton were permitted to visit the Indian village today for the purpose of trading for roots and bread, they were fortunate and made a good return."
Ordway, July 15, 1806, "Colter killed a panther a deer and a rattlesnake. In the evening wae camped in the mountains, Collins killed 4 elk. The musquetoes verry troublesome in deed."
"PRIVATE JOHN COLTER (1775- 1813) - When the expedition was in route home, Colter was honorably discharged on August 13, 1806. He returned to the Yellowstone then headed for the upper Missouri to trap the rich beaver country of the Blackfeet Indians. He escaped from the Blackfeet in the famous encounter in which another Lewis and Clark member, John Potts, was killed. Colter now had enough of the mountains and returned to St. Louis. Back in Missouri he married a woman named "Sallie"." ~
LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL.COM
Lived near today's New Haven, and joined the Army again during the War of 1812, serving under both Daniel Morgan Boone and Nathan Boone, dying of unknown causes and buried alongside the Missouri River N. of New Haven. Grave site found and a stone placed [see photo gallery]
NOTE from Outspoken1: "Timeline Category Requirement: If the timeline is split or divided on several different plaques or other media, but still the same timeline in the same general location, that will count only as one Waymark." The issue is that while there are two timelines in this shelter, they both deal with the same topic - The Lewis and Clark Expedition. Colter's timeline is still part of the expedition and the Timelines category asks that similar timelines in the same vicinity are considered one Waymark. Both these timelines are in the same shelter. Colter did return using a separate route after the encounter with the Black Feet Indians (which is also recorded in this timeline), but he was part of the expedition, thus these are two timelines of similar nature. That being said, the experiences to Colter do warrant a separate Waymark.