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The Grave of John Colter

The Grave of John Colter
OtherLC Features
New Haven Missouri 63068

Information

lat: 38.6149411 long: -91.2130217

John Colter, born around 1775, left his family farm in Staunton, Virginia, and settled in Limestone, Kentucky (later Maysville), before Meriwether Lewis arrived there in September 1803. Standing 5’10” with blue eyes, Colter approached Lewis and soon enlisted in the U.S. Army’s First Regiment on October 15, 1803, joining the Corps of Discovery.

After his time with the expedition, Colter learned of Meriwether Lewis’s death and read about the passing of George Drouillard in the August 1810 Missouri Gazette. Colter married a woman named Sarah (or Sally), and they made their home in La Charrette, near St. Charles, Missouri.
Colter became one of the earliest legendary Western “mountain men.” Despite his fame, he faced financial difficulties. Upon returning to St. Louis in 1810, he struggled to collect the $559 owed to him for his service in the Corps of Discovery. With Lewis deceased, Colter had to sue his estate, eventually receiving only $377.60 after a year in court.

In March 1812, Colter joined Nathan Boone’s Mounted Rangers, a frontier police force led by the son of Daniel Boone. Sadly, Colter died on May 7, 1812, after a brief illness at the age of 38. His exact gravesite is unknown, but it is believed he was buried on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, several miles east of New Haven, Missouri. A memorial marker in John Colter Memorial Park in New Haven honors his legacy.

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

New Haven Preservation Society
New Haven Preservation Society

810 Maupin Avenue, New Haven, MO 63068, USA
Distance: 0.45 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Triple 3 Vineyard
Triple 3 Vineyard

Triple 3 Vineyard, Sunny Road, Washington, MO, USA
Distance: 6.25 Away

Food and Drinks Festivals and Events

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Iron Spike Model Train Museum
Iron Spike Model Train Museum

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Distance: 11.28 Away

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Missouri Meerschaum Company
Missouri Meerschaum Company

400 West Front Street PO Box 226 Washington, Missouri 63090
Distance: 11.35 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers Guided Tours Shopping

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WashMo On the Go Welcome Center
WashMo On the Go Welcome Center

WashMO on the Go, Elbert Drive, Washington, MO, USA
Distance: 11.60 Away

Food and Drinks Museums and Interpretive Centers Shopping

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Washington Historical Society Museum
Washington Historical Society Museum

Washington Historical Society, East 4th Street, Washington, MO, USA
Distance: 11.61 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers Guided Tours

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Shop Around the Corner
Shop Around the Corner

Shop Around the Corner, Phoenix Center Drive, Washington, MO, USA
Distance: 13.44 Away

Shopping

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Stone Hill Winery
Stone Hill Winery

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Distance: 13.80 Away

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Cedar Lake Cellars
Cedar Lake Cellars

11008 Schreckengast Rd, Wright City, MO 63390, USA
Distance: 16.94 Away

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Butterfly & Moon
Butterfly & Moon

New Melle, MO, USA
Distance: 19.14 Away

Galleries and Venues Shopping

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The Historic Daniel Boone Home
The Historic Daniel Boone Home

1868 Hwy F, Defiance, MO 63341, USA
Distance: 19.59 Away

General History

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Shaw Nature Reserve
Shaw Nature Reserve

307 Pinetum Loop Rd, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA
Distance: 22.91 Away

Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes

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