May 24, 2004
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148 YEARS AGO TODAY
May 24 1856
A small gang led by abolitionist John Brown murders five pro-slavery homesteaders in Franklin County, Kansas. The event comes to be known as the Pottawatomie Massacre.
On May 21, 1856, the Pottawatomie Rifles were called together, when it was heard that an attack was to be made on Lawrence. On the way they learned that Lawrence had been destroyed and were in camp when news was brought that an attack was expected on the Pottawatomie.
Owen Brown, and later John Brown, asked to take a party down there to watch what was going on.
After supper John Brown revealed his plan, which was to "sweep the Pottawatomie of all pro-slavery men living on it."
Among the pro-slavery men were Allen Wilkinson, who kept the postoffice; James P. Doyle, who took up a claim north of the Pottawatomie in the fall of 1854; Henry and William Sherman, who settled on an abandoned Indian farm at the ford of the creek.
The party went north until Doyle's house was reached. They brought out Doyle and his sons—William and Drury. Doyle attempted to escape and John Brown shot him.
When the boys attempted to get away Brown's sons killed them with swords.
The party then proceeded to Wilkinson's house and ordered him out. He had gone but a short distance with them when one of the Brown boys killed him with a sword.
In the meantime William Sherman had been taken to the river, where he was killed with short swords and his body thrown into the stream.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/genweb/archives/1912/p/pottawatomie_massacre.html
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