Private John Colter - New Haven, MO
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 38° 36.900 W 091° 12.779
15S E 655581 N 4275568
Since he died near here, and had a farm near here, this town hold John Colter dear. He was a soldier with an enlistment, the enlistments for the "Corps" was "duration". Very rare in any period.
Waymark Code: WMJX0Y
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 01/09/2014
Views: 4
County of marker: Franklin County
Location of marker: Miller St. & Main St., on levee walk directly behind the Colter Shelter, New Haven
Marker erected by: New Haven Chamber of Commerce
Sign sponsored by Dr. Kim Colter and Elaine Menke
Image in background: Artist John Clymer depicts John Colter meeting the Indians in the Rocky Mountains
Image courtesy of Mrs. Doris Clymer
Marker Text:
Private John Colter
"Private John Colter was among the first members to be recruited by Captain Meriwether Lewis for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Colter was a skillful hunter, scout, and translator and he quickly became a valuable member of the party.
"After almost three years of traveling with the Corps of Discovery, Private Colter was given permission to leave the expedition on August 18, 1806 near the Mandan Village (in present day North Dakota). He was the only member of the expedition allowed to leave early from his enlistment. Colter wished to return to the wilderness and the mountains. He is credited with being the first white man to explore the region which later would become Yellowstone National Park. In 1810, Colter returned to Missouri to settle near the mouth of Boeuf Creek, located about three miles east of here."
"Colter came to the boat...had killed one buffelow, one elk, 3 deer one wolf 5 turkies and goose one beaver also..."
Sgt. John Ordway
September 6, 1804