Cynthia Ann Parker
Indian attacks on wagon trains were much less prevalent than legend leads us to believe. Usually settlements bore the brunt of such hostilities, after the tribes realized that settlers meant to drive them from their land.
Cynthia Ann Parker’s extended family came to Texas in 1830. They had organized a Baptist congregation and intended to carry the gospel to the "uttermost corners of the world." They scattered out between San Antonio and Nacodoches, with some going north, and others west. Cynthia Ann’s father, Silas was among the group which built Ft. Parker, on the headwaters of the Navasota River. It was well planned to stave off attacks and discipline was strict, due to the hostile climate between settlers and the tribes.
Cynthia’s father was commander of a regiment of Texas Rangers who covered the country between the Brazos and Trinity Rivers. They attacked every Indian they encountered, a circumstance which probably led to the tragedy of May 19, 1836. That morning, a large group of Indians approached Ft. Parker carrying a white flag and claiming to need food. When supplies were brought out, the fort was attacked, and most of the inhabitants massacred. Nine year old Cynthia Ann and four others were taken captive. Some days later the captives were split up and nothing is known of her experiences for many years after.
As often happened with young captives, Cynthia became totally assimilated into Comanche culture. She was happily married to Peta Nocona, a young warrior who treated her very well. They had two sons, Quanah, and Pecos, and a daughter, Topsannah.
Cynthia’s other relatives were eventually ransomed and returned to their families, but though she apparently had opportunities to return, she resisted contact with any potential rescuers.
In December 1860, Sul Ross led an attack on a band of Comanches near the Pease River. A woman with blue eyes was taken captive, and it was discovered she had concealed a baby in her robes. Col. Isaac Parker identified the woman as Cynthia Ann. She recalled having been called by that name, but remained uncommunicative and uncooperative, expressing only the desire to return to, "her people."
During the remaining ten years of her life Cynthia Ann was forced to adopt white clothing and customs, paraded among the public, and displayed as a curiosity, half wild, half civilized. She was passed around among relatives who always kept her closely guarded, because she repeatedly ran away to find her husband and sons.
Topsannah was punished by her white relatives whenever she spoke Comanche or played Indian games. She died of pneumonia at age five, and Cynthia Ann lived only five more years.
Peta Nocona continued to search for news of Cynthia Ann. Eventually he took his sons to Oklahoma, where Pecos died of smallpox. Quanah became a leader who was highly regarded among both his people and the whites. He was always eager for news of his mother and once requested a picture of her. He had her reburied near his home in Oklahoma, and upon his death, was laid to rest beside her at Post Oak Mission Cemetery.
In 1957, the government ordered removal of all Indians buried there, in order to establish missile proving grounds. Quanah and Cynthia's remains were taken to Ft. Sill Military Cemetery, and in 1965 Topsannah was transferred there as well.
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