Uncovered Wagon by PeppermintPics on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Dilapedated wagon at Fort Parker State Historic Site

Fort Parker was established by James Parker in present day Limestone County, TX near Groesbeck and Mexia. James came to Texas in 1834 with a group led by his brother, Reverend Daniel Parker, which settled near Elkhart in East Texas and established the first protestant church in Texas at a time when non catholic churches were outlawed by the Mexican government. James brought his family and a group of pioneers west to this location and settled, building Fort Parker for defense against Indian attacks.

On May 19, 1836, a large group of Comanche Indians attacked the fort in what would become known as the famous Fort Parker Massacre. Five men were killed, and 2 women and 3 children captured. Amongst those captured was Cynthia Ann Parker (James' niece). Cynthia would live out the next 25 years with the Commanches, eventually marrying Chief Peta Nocona. Cynthia had 3 children with the chief including Quanah Parker who became a prominent and last Comanche Chief.

After the attack, James searched for those who were captured, seeing the return of his sister in law, daughter, and grandson. James' nephew, John Richard Parker, was returned but had acclimated to the Commanche way of life and ran back to the Commanches. Cynthia refused to return to the Parker family, though she would later be returned following capture by Texas Rangers at the Battle of Pease River in 1860.

James Parker died in 1864. James W Parker is buried in the Old Pilgrim Cemetery near Elkhart, TX (and a picture of his grave is featured in my albums here at DA)

Fort Parker State Historic Site - https://oldfortparker.org/history

More about James Parker - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_W.…

More about the Fort Parker Massacre - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Par…

More about Cynthia Ann Parker - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_…

More about Quanah Parker - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quanah_P…