Print this page

The Marais Du Cygne Martyrs Memorial

Tour Stop

Entrance to the Trading Post CemeteryDirections: The Marais Du Cygne Martyrs Memorial [ Waypoint = N38 15.122 W94 40.811 ] is located in the Trading Post Cemetery [ Waypoint = N38 15.127 W94 40.807 ] in Trading Post, Kansas 66040.

  • From The Marais des Cygnes Massacre State Historic Site, backtrack to Kansas Highway 52 and turn right to get headed west on the highway.
  • After about 2.8 miles, turn left(south) onto Trading Post Road. This road joins Highway 52 right before the intersection with US Highway 69.
  • Drive south for about a mile and you should see the cemetery on the right (west) side of the road. Find a place to park.

The Marais Du Cygne Martyrs MemorialDescription: The tall obelisk of the memorial is just to the left and back from the entrance to the Trading Post Cemetery. The Marais Des Cygne Memorial Association raised money to erect a memorial to the victims of the massacre.

In 1988, the remains of four of the victims of the massacre were re-interred in the Trading Post Cemetery. The Pleasanton Observer reported on November 3, 1888, that the memorial had been erected in the Trading Post Cemetery. A dedication ceremony was held the following year on May 19, 1889.

On the front (east side) of the memorial is a list of the victims of the Marais des Cygnes Massacre:

Rev. B. L. Read

John F. Campbell

William Colpetzer

Michael Robertson

Patrick Ross

William Hairgrove

Asa Hairgrove

Charles Snider

William A Stilwell

Amos Hall

Austin Hall

On the south side of the memorial appears the following text:

On the 19th day of May 1858, the men whose names appear on this monument were taken from their daily avocations by a band of armed border ruffians and marched to a deep ravine four miles east of this place and there shot and left for dead. Their only offense was was they were Free State men.

On the west side of the memorial appears the following text:

Ad Astra Per Aspera

Erected 1988

On the north side of the memorial appears the following text:

From the hearths of their cabins,

The fields of their corn,

Unwarned and unweaponed,

The victims were torn,

By the whirlwind of murder

Swooped up and swept on

To the low, reedy fen-lands,

To the low, reedy fen-lands,

On the lintels of Kansas

That blood shall not dry;

Henceforth the Bad Angel

Shall harmless go by;

Henceforth to the sunset,

Unchecked on her way,

Shall Liberty follow

The march of the day.



The Muse South African