Pvt. J. Potts
Keelboat in a early morning Missouri River fog
I'm a retired banker with hobby bison farm. Orginally from the Kingdom of Callaway I now reside in Northwest Missouri.
Over the last 45 years I've been a Buckskinner, Mountain Man & Long Hunter. I heard the river call in 2003 and signed on with the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles for the 200th anniversary celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. While portraying a collateral relative Private Johann Potts I traveled approximately 2,500 miles on the Mississippi, Missouri, Grand and Yellowstone Rivers in the keelboat, white and red pirogues and dugout canoe. I have since been settled down in the 1803-1809 time period. The orginal expedition ended in September 1806 but Potts headed back to the mountains with his friend from the expedition Peter Weiser where they signed on with Manuel Lisa's fur trading company where they worked traps on the Jefferson River, a river they helped name. In the late fall of 1809 Potts and his old friend from the expedition, John Colter, were checking traps on the Jefferson when they were ambushed by several Blackfoot Indians. They were quickly overwhelmed by the tribe. In the short battle that ensued Potts was killed which satisfied the blood-lust of the natives and Colter was captured. Colter was stripped naked and given the opportunity to run for his life. Potts body was mutilated and strewn about the banks of the Jefferson River while Colter was making his run into history. Potts gave his life for his friend John Colter and I try to tell his story so his deeds are not forgotten. Potts had no known children and would be my 3 or 4th great uncle according to our family folklore. The photo accompanying my profile is a painting done by Kyle L. Carroll representing his interpretation of Potts. The Big Red 1 forage cap is mine any resemblance ends there.
Over the last 45 years I've been a Buckskinner, Mountain Man & Long Hunter. I heard the river call in 2003 and signed on with the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles for the 200th anniversary celebration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. While portraying a collateral relative Private Johann Potts I traveled approximately 2,500 miles on the Mississippi, Missouri, Grand and Yellowstone Rivers in the keelboat, white and red pirogues and dugout canoe. I have since been settled down in the 1803-1809 time period. The orginal expedition ended in September 1806 but Potts headed back to the mountains with his friend from the expedition Peter Weiser where they signed on with Manuel Lisa's fur trading company where they worked traps on the Jefferson River, a river they helped name. In the late fall of 1809 Potts and his old friend from the expedition, John Colter, were checking traps on the Jefferson when they were ambushed by several Blackfoot Indians. They were quickly overwhelmed by the tribe. In the short battle that ensued Potts was killed which satisfied the blood-lust of the natives and Colter was captured. Colter was stripped naked and given the opportunity to run for his life. Potts body was mutilated and strewn about the banks of the Jefferson River while Colter was making his run into history. Potts gave his life for his friend John Colter and I try to tell his story so his deeds are not forgotten. Potts had no known children and would be my 3 or 4th great uncle according to our family folklore. The photo accompanying my profile is a painting done by Kyle L. Carroll representing his interpretation of Potts. The Big Red 1 forage cap is mine any resemblance ends there.
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