County
Franklin County
In May 1856, the Pottawatomie Massacre took place along Pottawatomie Creek in Franklin County during Bleeding Kansas. Free-state fighters under John Brown killed five proslavery settlers there. Exodusters arrived in the county in 1879.
Timeline
- 1856 On the night of May 24 to 25, 1856, John Brown and free-state associates killed five proslavery settlers along Pottawatomie Creek in Franklin County. Sourced Pottawatomie Massacrehttps://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/pottawatomie-massacreRetrieved 2026-08-22
- 1879 Kansapedia notes Franklin County was also a destination for Exodusters in 1879. Link only Franklin County Kansashttps://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/franklin-county-kansas/15285Retrieved 2026-08-22
Connected through
Pottawatomie Massacre in the county, May 1856 Pottawatomie Massacrehttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3489516
Notes
On the night of May 24 to 25, 1856, John Brown and free-state associates killed five proslavery settlers along Pottawatomie Creek in Franklin County. Sourced Pottawatomie Massacrehttps://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/pottawatomie-massacreRetrieved 2026-08-22
Kansapedia notes Franklin County was also a destination for Exodusters in 1879. Link only Franklin County Kansashttps://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/franklin-county-kansas/15285Retrieved 2026-08-22
Ottawa is the county seat of Franklin County, Kansas (Wikidata). Sourced Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q374989Retrieved 2026-08-22
Civil War on the Western Border situates the May 24-25, 1856 Pottawatomie Massacre in Franklin County as following the May 21, 1856 Sack of Lawrence during Bleeding Kansas. Sourced Pottawatomie Massacrehttps://civilwaronthewesternborder.org/encyclopedia/pottawatomie-massacreRetrieved 2026-08-22