Near Trading Post in Linn County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Sounds from the past...hoof beats and heartbeats.

Frontier Military Historic Byway

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 2, 2010

1. Sounds from the past...hoof beats and heartbeats. Marker

Inscription.
Pro- and anti-slavery forces made their way to this area on horseback and on foot in the fight over whether Kansas would be a free state or a slave state. Skirmishes, scuffles and screams could be heard in the woodlands nearby.

The Marias des Cygnes Massacre occurred just northeast of here on May 19, 1858 when pro-slavery forces came from Missouri and captured 11 free-state men, killing five of them in a ravine. In December, 1858, John Brown gathered 11 slaves in Missouri and brought them to Kansas on their way to Canada on the underground railroad. The freed slaves reached Windsor, Canada in March, 1859.

Erected 2010 by Frontier Military Historic Byway.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1859.

Location. 38° 15.555′ N, 94° 40.289′ W. Marker is near Trading Post, Kansas, in Linn County. Marker is at the Kansas DOT rest area, located about 1500 feet SSE of the intersection of US Highway 69 and Kansas Highway 52. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pleasanton KS 66075, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sounds of the byway...moccasins and tears. (a few steps from this marker); Sounds along the byway...anxiety and anticipation in the creak of wagon wheels.

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(a few steps from this marker); Sounds along the roadway...soldiers on the move. (within shouting distance of this marker); Sounds along the byway...saws, picks and axes. (within shouting distance of this marker); Sounds along the byway...fur traders bringing their goods. (within shouting distance of this marker); Sounds along the byway...auto, trucks and buses. (within shouting distance of this marker); Marais Du Cygne Martyrs Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Marais des Cygnes Massacre (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Trading Post.

Also see . . .
1. Frontier Military Historic Byway. Kansas Tourism website entry (Submitted on August 2, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

2. Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site. Kansapedia website entry (Submitted on August 2, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

3. John Brown Museum State Historic Site. Kansapedia website entry (Submitted on August 2, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)

Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., August 2, 2010

2. Sounds from the past...hoof beats and heartbeats. Marker

KDOT Comfort Station in distant center background.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,200 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 2, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.