Quanah Parker was not 100% full blooded Comanche. Quanah Parker was half Texan, because his mom was a Texan named Cynthia Ann Parker.
Cynthia was a member of the large Parker tribe that settled in East Texas in the 1830s, eventually building a fort called Fort Parker, near what is now Groesbeck, Texas.
In 1836 the Comanche raided Fort Parker, likely in retaliation for depredations foisted upon them by the incoming Texans. Cynthia and her grandfather, John Parker, and other relatives, were taken captive. Grandpa John was killed. Others, included Cynthia, were tortured.
Somehow, eventually, the Comanche Chief, Peta Nocona, stopped the torture and made Cynthia his wife. Cynthia became part of the Comanche tribe, birthing 3 children, including Quanah, living happily with the Comanche for 24 years, until Cynthia was "rescued" from the savages when she was 34 years old.
Cynthia lived another 10 years, unhappily, attempting, at times, to escape the Texans to return to her adopted tribe.
I have had that feeling a time or two, that feeling of wanting to escape the Texans, to return to my adopted tribe. Then the feeling passes when I remember I don't have an adopted tribe to return to.
Today's walk with the spirit of Quanah Parker was very pleasant. One could not ask for a more perfect temperature. Today there were 3 groups, besides myself, walking on the Quanah Parker Park trail.
Quanah Parker Naked Pecan Trees |
I tell you, Quanah Parker Park is getting popular.
All leaves have left the Parker Pecan Trees. I like to look at the fractaling limbs of big trees after they have been stripped naked of leaves. It's hypnotic.
Speaking of fractaling. I have my window open due to the fact that it is currently 63 degrees in the outer world at my location. With the window open I can hear the dull roar of the Fracking currently going on at my neighborhood Fort Chesapeake.
I stopped at Fort Chesapeake, well, actually, I stopped on the Albertsons parking lot and walked across the street to Fort Chesapeake, to take a picture of the Fracking. But, that is a subject for a separate blogging.
As I tell anyone here in Texas that has complaints, the means that brought you in will take you out- whether highway, train, or plane. My family has been here since 1832, and Texans whose families have been here for generations feel that they are Texans first, then Americans. We love our state and feel a loyalty to it that seems to be hard for outsiders to understand.
ReplyDeleteSince the early 1800s?? That's funny to feel that it's your land?? It never was! It belonged to the Redman, that had been there long before your family settled.
DeleteI am related to Silas Bates The Brave Father that fought the Comanches an Titos when they came to Fort Parker under a flag of truce while the men were working in the fields. Study history deeper than face value, Its not black an white.
ReplyDeleteYour right its not black and white, however, the Comanche was also forced off their land by invading white folk like your kin.
ReplyDelete