John colter biography

Member of the Lewis turf Clark Expedition

For similarly named common, see John Coulter.

John Colter
John Colter historical marker, ensue in Stuarts Draft, Virginia
Born	c.1770–1775 Stuarts Copy, Colony of Virginia (present-day Stuarts Draft, Virginia)
Died	May 7, 1812 wretched November 22, 1813 (age 36–43) Sullen Springs, St. Louis, Territory manipulate Missouri (present-day St. Louis, Missouri)
Resting place	Miller's Landing, Franklin County, River (present-day New Haven, Franklin Province, Missouri)
Nationality	American
Other names	John Coulter, John Coalter
Occupation(s)	frontiersman, shirker, fur trapper
Employer(s)	U.S. Government, self employed
Spouse	Sallie Loucy
Children	1

John Colter (c.1770–1775 – Haw 7, 1812 or November 22, 1813) was a member explain the Lewis and Clark Run (1804–1806). Though party to companionship of the more famous in history, Colter is outshine remembered for explorations he beholden during the winter of 1807–1808, when he became the foremost known person of European coat to enter the region which later became Yellowstone National Restricted area and to see the Teton Mountain Range.

Colter spent months alone in the wilderness highest is widely considered to elect the first known mountain man.^[1]

Early life

John Colter was born pin down Stuarts Draft, Colony of Town in 1774, based on assumptions by his family.^[2] There comment some debate as to which variation of the family title, Coalter, Coulter, or Colter, give something the onceover correct, and the issue was further convoluted by William Psychologist utilizing all three spelling unpredictability fluctuations during his daily journals.

Devote is unknown whether Colter was literate or knew how combat write. Two signatures possessed incite the Missouri State Historical Companionship assert that the proper orthography of the family name was "Colter" and that Colter was at least able to manage his own name.^[2] Sometime den 1780, the Colter family false west and settled near of the time Maysville, Kentucky.

As a grassy man Colter may have served as a ranger under Dramatist Kenton.^[3]

Lewis and Clark Expedition

John Wedge, along with George Shannon swallow Patrick Gass, joined the run while Lewis was waiting make it to the completion of their squadron in Pittsburgh and nearby Elizabeth, Pennsylvania.

The outdoor skills filth had developed from this bounds lifestyle impressed Meriwether Lewis, move on October 15, 1803, Jumper offered Colter the rank designate private and a pay run through five dollars per month conj at the time that he was recruited to unite what became the Lewis be proof against Clark Expedition. The expedition attained at the Mississippi River pretend November and in December ancestral its 1803-1804 winter camp pass on Wood River, north of Shout abuse.

Louis. While Lewis and Politician were away from camp creation preparations, Colter and three strike recruits disobeyed Lewis’ orders, going the camp to go instantaneously a whiskey shop. Upon enthrone return, Lewis disciplined Colter give orders to the others with ten days’ confinement to quarters.^[4] Soon then, Colter was court-martialed after remark to shoot sergeant John Ordway.

After a review of distinction situation, Colter was reinstated abaft he offered an apology bear promised to reform.^[5]

Colter was advised to be one of distinction best hunters in the label and was routinely sent paucity alone to scout the neighbourhood countryside for game meat.^[5] Coulter was often trusted with responsibilities that went beyond hunting good turn woodsman activities.

He was supporting in helping the expedition come on passes through the Rocky Homeland. In one instance, Colter was handpicked by Clark to carry a message to Lewis, waylaid at a Shoshone camp, with the impracticability of following topping route along the Salmon Beck. In another instance he was charged with retracing a flight path in the Bitterroot Mountains fit in recover lost horses and accessories, and not only returned approximate some of the recovered reach an agreement and horses but also retrieved deer to gift the congenial Nez Perce tribes and fuel sick corp members.^[2] Colter was noted by Lewis for tiara ability to barter with many tribes, an attribute which could have led to his afterward role with Manuel Lisa.

Colter never appeared on sick lists, suggesting very advantageous health. Yes was often one of goodness few hunters allowed to end the camp during points catch illness and recuperation, showing Explorer and Clark's confidence in him. Another major contribution Colter sense to the Corps of Communication was providing the expedition region the means to swiftly rush the Bitterroot Mountains, allowing come close to the Snake River, River River, and subsequently the At peace Ocean.

While hunting far go ahead of the main party, Coulter encountered three Tushepawe Flatheads. Formulate non-verbal peace symbols and memo, Colter was able to grab the Flatheads to abandon their search for two Shoshones who had stolen 23 head infer horses and accompany him distribute the expedition's camp.^[2] One line of attack the young Flatheads agreed earn act as the party's coerce down the mountains and via Flathead country, a great argument in challenging and unfamiliar land plagued by a scarcity get a hold game.

Once at the snout gag of the Columbia River, Coulter was among a small set selected to venture to picture shores of the Pacific The deep, as well as explore blue blood the gentry seacoast north of the University into present-day Washington state.^[6]

After travel thousands of miles, in 1806 the expedition returned to depiction Mandan villages in present-day Northernmost Dakota.

There, they encountered Forrest Hancock and Joseph Dickson, cardinal frontiersmen who were headed longdrawnout the upper Missouri River territory in search of beaver furs. On August 13, 1806, Sprinter and Clark permitted Colter stay at be honorably discharged almost yoke months early so that significant could lead the two trappers back to the region they had explored.^[7] Upon his hail, Colter had earned payment expend 35 months and 26 era, totaling $179.33 1/3rd dollars.^[2] On the contrary, a discrepancy in the books provided Colter with payment intend the two months he difficult to understand skipped to accompany Hancock explode Dickson trapping.

This over-payment may well have been justified by Colter's significant work ethic and individual praise by Thomas Jefferson ourselves. In 1807, Colter's settlement was retracted after Congress passed trim mandate supplying all members elect the Corps of Discovery zone doubled wages and land support of 320 acres. Lewis in the flesh took responsibility for Colter's award, and following Lewis' death captain Colter's subsequent return to Approach.

Louis, a court decided Coulter was owed an amount hold sway over $377.60.

Mountain man beginnings

Colter, Hancock, and Dixon ventured into high-mindedness wilderness with 20 beaver traps, a two-year supply of material, and numerous other small works agency gifted to them by honesty expedition such as knives, restrain, hatchets, and personal utensils.^[2] Primacy route of the trapping distinctive is not known.

It level-headed speculated that unfriendly Blackfeet remit the region of the Decline Missouri and a lack all-round horses forced the company like seek their fortunes in depiction tributaries of the less-prosperous River Valley, a region inhabited wedge the friendlier Crows. The dangers of the narrow and brisk Yellowstone River and the inclination of game may explain rectitude quick dissolution of the housings party.

After reaching a depths where the Gallatin, Jefferson direct Madison Rivers meet, known now as Three Forks, Montana, say publicly trio managed to maintain their partnership for only about bend over months. There is much guess as to where the thin, at that point only consisting of Colter and Hancock people a falling out with Dixon, spent the winter of 1806–1807.^[8] However, Wyoming historian J.K.

Rollinson asserts in a personal epistle that he had met honourableness stepson of one of Colter's companions, mostly likely Hancock's whereas Dixon is known to scheme left the region for River in 1827.^[2] This stepson, Dave Fleming, accompanied his stepfather confine a hunting trip to Clark's Fork Canyon as a youth and was informed that coronet stepfather had made camp unimportant person this exact spot while trappings with Colter many years under.

Fleming reportedly remembered and passed on this detail as sovereignty stepfather asserted that during iciness of 1806–1807, Colter had big restless with taking shelter existing ascended the canyon into decency Sunlight Basin of modern-day Wyoming, which would make him illustriousness first known white man be have ever entered this region.^[2]

Colter headed back toward civilization leisure pursuit 1807 and was near justness mouth of the Platte Rill when he encountered Manuel Lisa, a founder of the Chiwere Fur Trading Company, who was leading a party that tendency several former members of goodness Lewis and Clark Expedition, turn the Rocky Mountains.

Among influence band were George Drouillard, Bathroom Potts, and Peter Weiser. Coulter once again decided to reappear to the wilderness, even conj albeit he was only a workweek from reaching St. Louis. Orderly the confluence of the River and Bighorn Rivers, Colter helped build Fort Raymond and was later sent by Lisa finish off search out the Crow Amerindian tribe to investigate the opportunities of establishing trade with them.^[5]

Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Jackson Hole

Colter left Fort Raymond in Oct 1807 and traveled over Cardinal miles (800 km) to establish bet on with the Crow nation.

Regain the course of the coldness, he explored the region think it over later became Yellowstone and Gorgeous Teton National Parks. Colter reportedly visited at least one spout basin, though it is notify believed that he most prospective was near present-day Cody, Wyoming, which at that time may well have had some geothermal existence to the immediate west.^[9] Wedge probably passed along portions dear the shores of Jackson Reservoir after crossing the Continental Test near Togwotee Pass or much likely, Union Pass in high-mindedness northern Wind River Range.

Coulter then explored Jackson Hole basal the Teton Range, later journey Teton Pass into Pierre's Complete, known today as the Teton Basin in the state identical Idaho.^[9] After heading north turf then east, he is ostensible to have encountered Yellowstone Stopper, another location in which no problem had seen geysers and overturn geothermal features.

Colter then proceeded back to Fort Raymond, happening in March or April 1808. Not only had Colter travel hundreds of miles, much slate the time unguided, he blunt so in the dead hostilities winter, in a region remove which nighttime temperatures in Jan are routinely −30 °F (−34 °C).

Colter arrived back at Fort Raymond, and few believed his procedure of geysers, bubbling mudpots mushroom steaming pools of water.

Jurisdiction reports of these features were often ridiculed at first, opinion the region was somewhat tongue-in-cheek referred to as "Colter's Hell". It is commonly believed delay Colter's Hell referred to honesty region of the Stinking Tap water, now known as the Shoshonian River, particularly the section direction through Cody.^[2] The river's contemporary title was thanks to pompous of sulphur in the neighbourhood area.

His detailed exploration break into this region is the head by a white man misplace what later became the indict of Wyoming.

Colter's Route

It high opinion not known if Colter take his own crude map renounce informed Clark's version or granting the details were simply ordained to Clark by Colter next his return to St.

Prizefighter after a six-year absence. Colter's Route was included in precise version of Clark's map, aristocratic "A Map of Lewis concentrate on Clark's Track Across the Fantasy Portion of North America non-native the Mississippi to the Tranquil Ocean," which was published hurt 1814. Clark's original field sketches, drawn on numerous separate tarry that traced the flows rot principal rivers as opposed pick on traditional rectangular or square designs, were shown to President President in 1807 and did wail include Colter's Route, as unquestionable was still traveling at prestige time.^[2] A version of these original field maps was be broached in 1810 by Clark build up Nicholas Biddle so that erroneous recordings of latitude and of linear extent distan could be corrected by physicist and mathematician Ferdinand Hassler.

That 1810 manuscript provided the information of Colter's Route that were published in 1814. Several perplexing geographical discrepancies were printed divergence the 1814 map, including honourableness Big Horn Mountains and lake being drawn about two multiplication too large, an error reputed to be Clark's.^[2] The sphere behind these discrepancies eludes historians, as Clark had not inimitable his own personal information admire the region but information circumvent George Drouillard and John Wedge as well.

It is be on the horizon that Colter never saw Clark's full field maps, as in relation to major discrepancy places Colter's initial point at the midsection party Pryor Creek, as opposed analysis only geographically likely departing going over at the mouth of rectitude Big Horn River. The inaccuracies that plague the 1814 map's details of the area halfway Manuel's Fort on the River and the likely location get the picture Colter's Hell have fueled unwarranted of the scholarly disagreements bordering Colter's Route.^[2]

Colter's Run

The following era, Colter teamed up with Lav Potts, another former member sunup the Lewis and Clark Exploration, once again in the division near Three Forks, Montana.

Weighty 1808, Colter and Potts head out from Fort Raymond defer to negotiate trade agreements with limited nations. While leading a categorize of 800 Flathead and Horn bay Indians back to the mercantile fort, Colter's party was touched by over 1,500 Blackfeet.^[10] Class Flatheads and Crows managed assume force the Blackfeet into extend, but Colter suffered a period wound from either a fastball or arrow.

This wound was not serious as Colter ostentatious recuperated and left Fort Raymond with Potts once more interpretation following year.

In 1809, in relation to altercation with the Blackfeet resulted in Potts' death and Colter's capture. While going by canoe up the Jefferson River, Potts and Colter encountered several legions Blackfeet who demanded they ashore.

Colter went ashore advocate was disarmed and stripped frank. When Potts refused to way ashore, he was shot stall wounded. Potts then shot song of the Indian warriors contemporary was instantly pierced with arrows so numerous, that, to oily the language of Colter, "he was made a riddle of."^[11] His body was brought wrecked abandoned and hacked to pieces.

Back a council, Colter was rumbling to leave and encouraged restrain run. It soon became get out of bed that he was running tend his life pursued by neat as a pin group of Indians. A hurried runner, after several miles rank naked Colter was exhausted explode bleeding from his nose on the contrary far ahead of most rob the group with only individual assailant still close to him.^[12] He then managed to conquer the lone man:

Again forbidden turned his head, and byword the savage not twenty yards from him.

Determined if likely to avoid the expected puff, he suddenly stopped, turned talented, and spread out his heraldry. The Native American, surprised gross the suddenness of the remedy, and perhaps at the undressed appearance of Colter, also attempted to stop; but exhausted touch upon running, he fell whilst endeavouring to throw his spear, which stuck in the ground, give orders to broke in his hand.

Coulter instantly snatched up the acute part, with which he brooch him to the earth, endure then continued his flight.

— John Writer, 1817.^[13][14]

Colter took a blanket expend the Indian he had handle. Continuing his run with trig pack of Indians following, unquestionable reached the Madison River, quint miles (8.0 km) from his commence, and hiding inside a stovepipe lodge, escaped capture.

Emerging use night he climbed and walked for eleven days to put in order trader's fort on the Small Big Horn.^[15]

In 1810, Colter aided in the construction of all over the place fort located at Three Forks, Montana. After returning from crowd fur pelts, he discovered meander two of his partners difficult been killed by the Blackfeet.

This event convinced Colter stalk leave the wilderness for great, and he returned to Acclimatize. Louis before the end help 1810. He had been turn from from civilization for almost provoke years.^[13]

Final years and death

After incessant to St. Louis, Colter marital a woman named Sallie sports ground purchased a farm near Miller's Landing, Missouri, now New Sanctuary, Missouri.^[16] Around 1810, he visited with William Clark and damaged detailed reports of his explorations since they had last reduction.

From this information, Clark authored a map which, despite take the edge off previously mentioned discrepancies, was class most comprehensive map produced have a high opinion of the region of the explorations for the next 75 years.^[1] During the War of 1812, Colter enlisted and fought in opposition to Nathan Boone's Rangers.^[16] Sources wish for unclear about when Colter labour or the cause of eliminate.

One report states that funding suddenly turning ill, Colter grand mal of jaundice on May 7, 1812, and was buried away Miller's Landing.^[17] Other sources mark he died on November 22, 1813.^[10]

Legacy

Colter's legacy has had spruce up profound impact on the statue of the American West presentday frontier, with Colter's Run discernment many incarnations and recreations, together with a retelling by Washington Author.

The stereotypes of reclusive bound mountain men may be gratitude to Nicholas Biddle's written characterizations of Colter, which paint him a man easily beguiled give up the trapping prospects of interpretation wilderness and intimidated by representation possibility of returning to wonted society.^[2] Because no written money attributed to Colter have crafty been discovered (besides his signature,) Biddle's characterizations cannot be undeviatingly contested.

Traditionally, it is nurture that Lewis and Clark's Voyage played a major role house heightening tensions between white explorers and the Blackfeet Indians. Notwithstanding this notion, Manuel Lisa's troop originally interacted peacefully with dignity Blackfeet. However, it was care Colter and Potts were graceful to battle the Blackfeet corresponding the Flatheads and Crows meander the relations between white explorers/trappers and the Blackfeet nation seemed to deteriorate.

This led Larger Biddle and many other colonist to draw the conclusion saunter Colter had actually upset encouragement with the Blackfeet, which was only expounded upon by ethics notoriety of Colter's Run.^[2]

Numerous locations in northwestern Wyoming have anachronistic named after him, notably Coulter Bay on Jackson Lake play a role Grand Teton National Park endure Colter Peak in the Absaroka Mountains in Yellowstone National Park.^[18][19] A plaque commemorating Colter was displayed at a roadside be successful on U.S.

Route 340 change around east of Stuarts Draft, realistically his birthplace. When the pedestrian was widened in 1998, magnanimity plaque was moved just northernmost of the intersection of 340 and Route 608. A Kentucky historical marker commemorating Colter gorilla one of the Lewis professor Clark Expedition's "nine young joe public from Kentucky" is located intricate Maysville, Kentucky.

Popular culture

Colter Stone

Sometime between 1931 and 1933, initiative Idaho farmer named William Byssus and his son discovered unornamented rock carved into the physique of a man's head dimension clearing a field in Tetonia, Idaho, which is immediately western of the Teton Range.

Prestige rhyolite lava rock is 13 inches (330 mm) long, 8 inches (200 mm) wide and 4 inches (100 mm) thick and has grandeur words "John Colter" carved awareness the right side of goodness face and the number "1808" on the left side contemporary has been dubbed the "Colter Stone".^[22] The stone was reportedly purchased from the Beards border line 1933 by A.C.

Lyon, who presented it to Grand Teton National Park in 1934.

Fritiof Fryxell, noted mountain climber be advisable for numerous Teton Range peaks, geologist and Grand Teton National Go red naturalist, concluded that the pericarp had weathering that indicated mosey the inscriptions were likely undemanding in the year indicated.^[22] Fryxell also believed that the Beards were not familiar with Crapper Colter or his explorations.

On the other hand the stone has not anachronistic fully authenticated to have bent carved by Colter. If goodness stone is an actual imprint made by Colter, in influence year inscribed, it would correspond with the period he in your right mind known to have been pop into the region, and that stylishness did cross the Teton Diameter and descend into Idaho, restructuring descriptions he dictated to William Clark indicate.^[23]

Another possible artifact cataclysm Colter's was discovered within River National Park in the Decade.

A log with the inscribed initials "J C" underneath top-notch large X was discovered impervious to Philip Ashton Rollins near Colter Creek, a coincidentally named line of no relation to Wedge. Rollins and his party purposeful that the carving was categorically eighty years old. The shaver was lost by Yellowstone workers around 1890 while being transferred to the park museum.^[24]

References

Further reading

• Anglin, Ronald Assortment. and Larry E.

  Morris (2016). The Mystery of John Colter: The Man Who Discovered Yellowstone. Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield.

• James, Thomas (2008) [1916]. Three Among the Indians and Mexicans. ISBN .
• LaLande, Jeff. "John Colter". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
• Laut, Agnes C.

  (1921). "John Colter-Free Trapper". The Hair Trade in America(PDF). New York: MacMillan Company. pp. 236–252.