Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

John Colter, a Virginia native, was recruited in Kentucky, by Meriwether Lewis to service in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, October 1803. Colter became a valued member of the Corps of Discovery serving as a hunter and scout. When Colter asked to leave the Expedition to trap in the mountains on August 15, 1806, William Clark said "...we were disposed to be of service to any one of our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done, we agreed to allow him the privilage ..."

After several encounters with the Blackfeet Indians while trapping beaver, he returned to farm, in what is now Missouri, married and had a son, Hiriam.

Military records show that Private John Colter died May 7, 1812, while serving in the United States Mounted Rangers commanded by Captain Nathan Boone, son of Daniel Boone.

His gravesite has never been located but it is believed that Colter was buried several miles east of here in a bluff top cemetery overlooking the Missouri River.

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