Franklin, Douglas County, Kansas facts for kids

Franklin is a ghost town in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. It was once a very important place during a time called "Bleeding Kansas" in the 1850s. This period was full of fighting over whether Kansas would allow slavery. Franklin was a town that supported slavery.

How Franklin Started

Franklin was founded in October 1853. This makes it one of the oldest towns in Douglas County. At first, it was a trading post. Here, people from the West traded goods with the indigenous peoples (native groups) living in the area.

When Kansas was opened for new settlers, many people moved to Franklin. Most of these settlers came from the southern states. They wanted Kansas to become a state where slavery was allowed. By late 1855, Franklin had about twelve homes and businesses. It also had a post office. It quickly became a key place for those who wanted slavery to spread into Kansas.

By spring 1856, Sheriff Samuel J. Jones made Franklin his base. He was a strong supporter of slavery. Even though he was injured by a sniper, Franklin grew as a center for the pro-slavery side. By May 1856, three forts were built in Douglas County. A strong building called Franklin's Fort was built inside Franklin. This fort was used to store weapons. It also held a cannon taken during an attack on Lawrence on May 21. The fort was built to protect against attacks from people who opposed slavery.

Battles at Franklin

The "Old Sacramento" cannon was captured by free-state fighters during the Second Battle of Franklin on August 12, 1856.

In the summer of 1856, there were two attacks on Franklin's Fort. People who wanted Kansas to be a free state (without slavery) wanted to get rid of the forts built by the pro-slavery side.

The first attack happened on June 4. About fifteen members of the Lawrence Stubbs, a free-state group, entered Franklin after dark. They were looking for a cannon called "Old Sacramento." This cannon had been taken by the pro-slavery side during a raid on Lawrence. Some defenders at the fort noticed them. This led to the First Battle of Franklin. During this fight, the cannon was fired once. People also shot at the free-state fighters from houses. This forced the free-state group to leave. One man from Franklin lost his life, and a few people were injured. Some Franklin men might have been captured.

After this attack, Franklin's defenses were made stronger. The fort itself became harder to attack. On August 12, the Second Battle of Franklin took place. This time, about 75 free-state men left Lawrence after dark. They were led by James H. Lane. They attacked the town and fort. Only about 20 men were defending Franklin. For several hours, both sides shot at each other in the dark. Not much damage was done at first. However, several free-state fighters were wounded, and one fort defender was also hurt. One free-state fighter was killed.

A message was sent to a U.S. cavalry group camped about 5 miles (8 km) away. They were asked for help. The cavalry could not reach Franklin until just before dawn. Meanwhile, things got difficult for the fort's defenders. The Lawrence attackers finally made progress. They set a wagon full of hay on fire and pushed it to the front door of the fort. The heat and light scared the defenders. They ran away into the night. The free-state fighters then searched the fort. They took weapons, including the "Old Sacramento Cannon," food, and prisoners. After the battle, the fort was no longer used for defense. It became a home soon after.

Why Franklin Disappeared

Even though Franklin became an official town (was incorporated) in 1857, it was no longer as important for the pro-slavery cause. In the late 1850s and early 1860s, the town's ideas changed. By 1861, people in Franklin who supported slavery kept it to themselves. The town was now mostly against slavery.

With this change, many African Americans came to live in Franklin. When the American Civil War began, Franklin sent 60 men to fight for the Union side. On August 21, 1863, William C. Quantrill and about 400 guerrillas (fighters who use surprise attacks) and Confederate Army soldiers passed through Franklin. They were on their way to attack Lawrence. One of the guerrilla leaders said they saw a few Union soldiers in town. A resident, Dr. R. L. Williams, who lived in the old fort, thought Quantrill's men were Union soldiers. No one paid much attention as they quickly passed through.

After Lawrence was attacked and burned, many houses were moved from Franklin to Lawrence. They were used to help rebuild the city. Without its buildings, Franklin quickly faded away. The town's post office officially closed in 1867. Around this time, big buildings like a hotel and a sawmill were moved elsewhere. The old stone fort, which Dr. Williams lived in, was the most important building left for a long time. By 1900, people had to work hard to fill in old wells and cellar pits where houses used to be. Around 1912, the stone fort was finally torn down. On October 30, 1927, a newspaper wrote that "only fertile fields mark [the] spot where [the] famous Kansas town stood."

Today, the area where Franklin once stood is part of Lawrence. It is now like a suburb of the city. A road in this area is still called "Franklin Road."