A Woman of Two Worlds and A Man In Two Worlds

The Travelling Toe and 3 Dear Friends journeyed east to the Irving Arts Center to view a small collection of memorabilia relating to Cynthia Ann  Parker and her son Quanah Parker

Irving Arts Center

The exhibit was sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission.

For those of you Dear Readers who are not familiar with the story of Cynthia Ann Parker it is a true tale of the wild Texas Frontier when Native Americans roamed parts of Texas.  She is the most famous Native American captive in Texas history.

On May 19,1836, a large force of Comanche warriors, along with some Kiow and Kichai allies, attacked Fort Parker. The fort was located at the headwaters of the Navasota River. During the raid the Comanches seized 5 captives including a young girl, Cynthia Ann Parker.  Her birth date is a tad uncertain but it is thought she was around 9 years old.  Along with her, four other people were captured. However, these four captives were later released.

Cynthia Ann lived with the Comanches for almost 25 years and forgot White ways and became thoroughly immersed with her tribal family. She married the chief of the tribe, Peta Nocona, and they had three children.  Her tribe name was Naduah, which means someone found. Her oldest son, Quanah, became a celebrated Comanche Chief.  

Cynthia Ann Parker
(this is rather a bad angle due to the lights)

Eventually Cynthia Ann was found by the Texas Rangers and returned to her family.  She never adjusted to the life of White society.  She missed her true family and escaped and tired to return to her Comanche family and children.  But once again she was found and brought back to Texas.

These pictures show the chronological time line of the events relating to Cynthia Ann.

When her young daughter, Prairie Flower, caught influenza and died, Cynthia Ann was so heartbroken she stopped eating and eventually died.  She was buried in Fosterville Cemetery in Anderson County. In 1910, Quanah had her body removed and reburied at the Oak Mission Cemetery near Cache Oklahoma.  Then In 1957, Cynthia Ann and Quanah were reinterred at the Fort Sill Post Cemetery at Lawton, Oklahoma.  

These are the grave markers for Cynthia Ann and Quanah.

Quanah severed as a link between the Whites and the Comanches.  He was the most influential Comanche leader of the reservation era.

Below are photos of Quanah parker.  He was very regal looking and handsome.

Below are display cases of Native American artifacts and other pictures.

Hope you enjoyed this quick glance at an important part of Texas frontier history,