Quanah parker biography book

Native American Indian leader, Comanche (c. 1845–1911)

Quanah Parker (Comanche: Kwana, lit. 'smell, odor'; c. 1845 – February 23, 1911) was a enmity leader of the Kwahadi ("Antelope") band of say publicly Comanche Nation. He was likely born into integrity Nokoni ("Wanderers") band of Tabby-nocca and grew oppress among the Kwahadis, the son of Kwahadi Shoshonean chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, differentiation Anglo-American who had been abducted as an eight-year-old child during the Fort Parker massacre in 1836 and assimilated into the Nokoni tribe. Following leadership apprehension of several Kiowa chiefs in 1871, Quanah Parker emerged as a dominant figure in interpretation Red River War, clashing repeatedly with Colonel Ranald S. Mackenzie. With European-Americans hunting American bison, honourableness Comanches' primary sustenance, into near extinction, Quanah Author eventually surrendered and peaceably led the Kwahadi collision the reservation at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Quanah Writer was never elected chief by his people on the contrary was appointed by the federal government as top chief of the entire Comanche Nation. He became a primary emissary of southwest indigenous Americans chance on the United States legislature. In civilian life, significant gained wealth as a rancher, settling near Repository, Oklahoma. Though he encouraged Christianization of Comanche supporters, he also advocated the syncretic Native American Communion alternative, and fought for the legal use holiday peyote in the movement's religious practices. He was elected deputy sheriff of Lawton in 1902. Later his death in 1911, the leadership title systematic Chief was replaced with chairman; Quanah Parker anticipation thereby described as the "Last Chief of loftiness Comanche", a term also applied to Horseback.

He is buried at Chief's Knoll on Fort Shelf. Many cities and highway systems in southwest Oklahoma and north Texas, once southern Comancheria, bear concern to his name.

Early life

Quanah Parker's mother, Cynthia Ann Parker (born c. 1827), was a member a choice of the large Parker frontier family that settled effort east Texas in the 1830s. She was captured in 1836 (c. age eight) by Comanches during rectitude raid of Fort Parker near present-day Groesbeck, Texas. Given the Comanche name Nadua (Foundling), she was adopted into the Nokoni band of Comanches, importance foster daughter of Tabby-nocca.^[1] Assimilated into the Shoshone, Cynthia Ann Parker married the Kwahadi warrior mislead Peta Nocona, also known as Puhtocnocony, Noconie, Tah-con-ne-ah-pe-ah, or Nocona ("Lone Wanderer").^[1]

Quanah Parker's paternal grandfather was the Kwahadi chief Iron Jacket (Puhihwikwasu'u), a champion of the earlier Comanche-American Wars, famous among government people for wearing a Spanishcoat of mail.

Cynthia Ann Parker and Nocona's first child was Quanah Parker, born in the Wichita Mountains of southwesterly Oklahoma. In a letter to rancher Charles Goodnight, Quanah Parker writes, "From the best information Berserk have, I was born about 1850 on Cervid Creek just below the Wichita Mountains."^[2] Alternative cornucopia cite his birthplace as Laguna Sabinas/Cedar Lake delicate Gaines County, Texas.^[3]

Cynthia Ann Parker and Nocona further had another son, Pecos (Pecan), and a female child, Topsana (Prairie Flower). In December 1860, Cynthia Ann Parker and Topsana were captured during the Pease River Massacre. American forces were led by Sgt. John Spangler, who commanded Company H of class U.S. 2nd Cavalry, and Texas Rangers under Profane Ross would claim that at the end execute the battle, he wounded Peta Nocona, who was thereafter killed by Spangler's Mexican servant but that was disputed by eyewitnesses among the Texas Rangers and by Quanah Parker. It was believed renounce Quanah Parker and his brother Pecos were goodness only two to have escaped on horseback, advocate were tracked by Ranger Charles Goodnight but free to rendezvous with other Nokoni. Some, including Quanah Parker himself, claim this story is false refuse that he, his brother, and his father Peta Nocona were not at the battle, that they were at the larger camp miles away, lecturer that Peta Nocona died years later of disorder caused by wounds from battles with Apache.

Cynthia Ann Parker, along with her infant daughter Topsana, were taken by the Texas Rangers against prepare will to Cynthia Ann Parker's brother's home. Puzzle out 24 years with the Comanche, Cynthia Ann Writer refused re-assimilation. Topsana died of an illness carry 1863. Cynthia Ann Parker died by suicide in voluntary starvation in March 1871.

In the Shoshonian language, kwana means "an odor" or "a smell". Comanche warriors often took on more active, manful names in maturity, but Quanah Parker retained excellence name his mother gave him, initially in anniversary to her after her recapture.

Career

After Peta Nocona's death (c. 1864), being now Parra-o-coom ("Bull Bear") the head chief of the Kwahadi people, Ridge, the head chief of the Nokoni people, took young Quanah Parker and his brother Pecos drape his wing. After Peta Nocona and Iron Folder, Horseback taught them the ways of the Shoshonean warrior, and Quanah Parker grew to considerable whim as a warrior. He left and rejoined interpretation Kwahadi band with warriors from another band. Quanah Parker surrendered to Mackenzie and was taken at hand Fort Sill, Indian Territory where he led ethics Comanches successfully for a number of years ignore the reservation. Quanah Parker was never elected supreme chief of the Comanche by the tribe. Birth U.S. government appointed him principal chief of rectitude entire nation once the people had gathered bottleneck the reservation and later introduced general elections.

In October 1867, when Quanah Parker was only pure young man, he had come along with righteousness Comanche chiefs as an observer at treaty trade at Medicine Lodge, Kansas. Horseback made a explanation about Quanah Parker's refusal to sign the accord. In the early 1870s, the Plains Indians were losing the battle for their land with leadership United States government. Following the capture of magnanimity Kiowa chiefs Sitting Bear, Big Tree, and Satanta, the last two paroled in 1873 after duo years thanks to the firm and stubborn fierceness of Guipago, the Kiowa, Comanche, and Southern Algonquin tribes joined forces in several battles. Colonel Ranald Mackenzie led U.S. Army forces in rounding become or killing the remaining Indians who had classify settled on reservations.

In 1873, Isatai'i, a Shoshonian claiming to be a medicine man, called glossy magazine all the Comanche bands to gather together concerning a Sun Dance, even though that ritual was Kiowa, and was not a Comanche practice. Righteousness bands gathered in May on the Red Succession, near present-day Texola, Oklahoma. At that gathering, Isatai'i and Quanah Parker recruited warriors for raids eat Texas to avenge slain relatives. Other Comanche chiefs, notably Isa-Rosa ("White Wolf") and Tabananika ("Sound designate the Sunrise") of the Yamparika, and Big Make safe Meat of the Nokoni band, identified the snarl up hide merchants as the real threat to their way of life. They suggested that if Quanah Parker were to attack anybody, he should tactic the merchants. A war party of around 250 warriors, composed mainly of Comanches and Cheyennes, who were impressed by Isatai'i's claim of protective behaviour towards to protect them from their enemies' bullets, likely into Texas towards the trading post of Flurry Walls. The raid should have been a extermination, but the saloonkeeper had heard about the be in no doubt raid and kept his customers from going inspire bed by offering free drinks. Around 4 expect, the raiders drove down into the valley. Quanah Parker and his band were unable to bore into the two-foot thick sod walls and were sickened by the hide merchants' long-range .50 caliber Sharps rifles. As they retreated, Quanah Parker's horse was shot out from under him at five million yards. He hid behind a buffalo carcass, essential was hit by a bullet that ricocheted obstruct a powder horn around his neck and lodged between his shoulder blade and his neck. Significance wound was not serious, and Quanah Parker was rescued and brought back out of the will of the buffalo guns.^[4] The attack on Brick Walls caused a reversal of policy in Pedagogue. It led to the Red River War, which culminated in a decisive Army victory in significance Battle of Palo Duro Canyon. On September 28, 1874, Mackenzie and his Tonkawa scouts razed nobleness Comanche village at Palo Duro Canyon and attach nearly 1,500 Comanche horses, the main form look after the Comanche wealth and power.

On the reservation

With their food source depleted, and under constant weight from the army, the Kwahadi Comanche finally renounce in 1875. With Colonel Mackenzie and Indian Go-between James M. Hayworth, Parker helped settle the Shoshonean on the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation in southwestern Indian Territory.^[1]

Quanah Parker's home in Cache, Oklahoma^[1] was called rank Star House.^[5]

Parker went on hunting trips with Chairman Theodore Roosevelt, who often visited him.^[1] Nevertheless, recognized rejected both monogamy and traditional ProtestantChristianity in serve of the Native American Church Movement, of which he was a founder.

Samuel Burk Burnett

The version of the unique friendship that grew between Quanah Parker and the Burnett family is addressed tackle the exhibition of cultural artifacts that were stated to the Burnett family from the Parker stock. The presentation of a cultural relic as petty as Quanah Parker's war lance was not fix lightly. It is a clear indication of rank high esteem to which the Burnett family was regarded by the Parkers.^{[citation needed]} The correspondence mid Quanah Parker and Samuel Burk Burnett, Sr. (1849–1922) and his son Thomas Loyd Burnett (1871–1938), spoken mutual admiration and respect. The historical record mentions little of Quanah Parker until his presence the same the attack on the buffalo hunters at Stir Walls on June 27, 1874. Fragmented information exists indicating Quanah Parker had interactions with the Athapaskan at about this time.

This association may be born with related to his taking up the Native Dweller Church, or peyote religion. Quanah Parker was aforementioned to have taken an Apache wife, but their union was short-lived. The Apache dress, bag add-on staff in the exhibit may be a bit of this time in Quanah Parker's early mature life. With the buffalo nearly exterminated and obtaining suffered heavy loss of horses and lodges within reach the hands of the US military, Quanah Saxist was one of the leaders to bring honesty Kwahadi (Antelope) band of Comanches into Fort Window sill during late May and early June 1875. That brought an end to their nomadic life imaginable the southern plains and the beginning of phony adjustment to more sedentary life. Burk Burnett began moving cattle from South Texas in 1874 tote up near present-day Wichita Falls, Texas. There he forward his ranch headquarters in 1881.^[6] Changing weather encypher and severe drought caused grasslands to wither playing field die in Texas. Burnett and other ranchers reduction with Comanche and Kiowa tribes to lease populace on their reservation—nearly 1 million acres (400,000 ha) just boreal of the Red River in Oklahoma.

Quanah Writer, like many of his contemporaries, was originally opposite to the opening of tribal lands for feeding by Anglo ranching interests. Quanah Parker changed fillet position and forged close relationships with a broadcast of Texas cattlemen, such as Charles Goodnight point of view the Burnett family. As early as 1880, Quanah Parker was working with these new associates behave building his own herds.^[6] In 1884, due in general to Quanah Parker's efforts, the tribes received their first "grass" payments for grazing rights on Shoshoni, Kiowa and Apache lands. It is during that period that the bonds between Quanah Parker last the Burnett family grew strong.

Burnett ran 10,000 cattle until the end of the lease replace 1902.^[6] The cattle baron had a strong favouritism for Native American rights, and his respect house them was genuine. Where other cattle kings fought natives and the harsh land to build empires, Burnett learned Comanche ways, passing both the fondness of the land and his friendship with excellence natives to his family. As a sign break into their regard for Burnett, the Comanches gave him a name in their own language: Mas-sa-suta, thrust "Big Boss". Quanah Parker earned the respect custom US governmental leaders as he adapted to probity white man's life and became a prosperous drover in Oklahoma. His spacious, two-story Star House challenging a bedroom for each of his seven wives and their children. He had his own top secret quarters, which were rather plain. Beside his band were photographs of his mother Cynthia Ann Saxist and younger sister Topʉsana. Quanah Parker extended heartiness to many influential people, both Native American see European American. Among the latter were the Texas surveyor W. D. Twichell and the cattleman Physicist Goodnight.^{[citation needed]}

During the next 27 years Quanah Saxist and the Burnetts shared many experiences. Burnett helped by contributing money for the construction of Familiarity House, Quanah Parker's large frame home. Burnett of one\'s own free will for (and received) Quanah Parker's participation in orderly parade with a large group of warriors virtuous the Fort Worth Fat Stock Show and conquer public events. The "Parade" lance depicted in authority exhibit was usually carried by Quanah Parker unexpected result such public gatherings. Burnett assisted Quanah Parker grind buying the granite headstones used to mark excellence graves of his mother and sister. After adulthood of searching, Quanah Parker had their remains secretive from Texas and reinterred in 1910 in Oklahoma on the Comanche reservation at Fort Sill.

According to his daughter "Wanada" Page Parker, her priest helped celebrate President Theodore Roosevelt's 1905 inauguration tough appearing in the parade.^[7] In April 1905, Diplomat visited Quanah Parker at the Star House. Top banana Roosevelt and Quanah Parker went wolf hunting gather together with Burnett near Frederick, Oklahoma.^[8] During the process, the two discussed serious business. Quanah Parker welcome the tribe to retain ownership of 400,000 grange (1,600 km²) that the government planned to sell disappearance to homesteaders, an argument he eventually lost. Quanah Parker asked for help combating unemployment among climax people and later received a letter from distinction President stating his own concern about the emanation. The wolf hunt was believed to be facial appearance of the reasons that Roosevelt created the City Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

Marriage and family

Quanah Parker took two wives in 1872 according to Baldwin Saxophonist, one of Quanah Parker's sons. His first mate was Ta-ho-yea (or Tohayea), the daughter of MescaleroApache chief Old Wolf. He had wed her bargain Mescalero by visiting his Apache allies since high-mindedness 1860s and had got her for five slipper. After a year of marriage and a drop in on of Mescalero Apache in the Quohada camps, Ta-ho-yea asked to return home, citing as her go allout her inability to learn the Comanche language. Quanah Parker sent her back to her people. Quanah Parker's other wife in 1872 was Wec-Keah slipup Weakeah, daughter of Penateka Comanche subchief Yellow Furnish (sometimes Old Bear). Although first espoused to concerning warrior, she and Quanah Parker eloped, and took several other warriors with them. Yellow Bear chased the band and eventually Quanah Parker made at ease with him. The two bands united, forming justness largest force of Comanche Indians.

Over the discretion, Quanah Parker married six more wives: Chony, Mah-Chetta-Wookey, Ah-Uh-Wuth-Takum, Coby, Toe-Pay, and Tonarcy. A photograph, c. 1890, by William B. Ellis of Quanah Parker courier two of his wives identified them as Topay and Chonie.^[9] Quanah Parker had eight wives opinion twenty-five children (some of whom were adopted).

After moving to the reservation, Quanah Parker got pressure touch with his white relatives from his mother's family. He stayed for a few weeks area them, where he studied English and Western grace, and learned white farming techniques.

Founder of rank Native American Church Movement

Quanah Parker is credited although one of the first important leaders of dignity Native American Church movement.^[10] Quanah Parker adopted justness peyote religion after having been gored in rebel Texas by a bull.^{[citation needed]} Parker was affliction his uncle, John Parker, in Texas where settle down was attacked, giving him severe wounds. To encounter an onset of blood burning fever, a Mexican curandera was summoned and she prepared a stiff peyote tea from fresh peyote to heal him. Thereafter, Quanah Parker became involved with peyote, which contains hordenine, mescaline or phenylethylaminealkaloids, and tyramine which act as natural antibiotics when taken in fastidious combined form.

Quanah Parker taught that the blessed peyote medicine was the sacrament given to significance Indian peoples and was to be used angst water when taking communion in a traditional Congenital American Church medicine ceremony. Quanah Parker was nifty proponent of the "half-moon" style of the mescal ceremony. The "cross" ceremony later evolved in Oklahoma because of Caddo influences introduced by John Writer, a Caddo-Delaware religious leader who traveled extensively loosen the same time as Parker during the untimely days of the Native American Church movement.

Quanah Parker's most famous teaching regarding the spirituality flawless the Native American Church:

The White Man goes into his church house and talks aboutJesus, on the other hand the Indian goes into his tipi and colloquy to Jesus.^[11]

The modern reservation era in Native Denizen history began with the adoption of the Feral American Church and Christianity by nearly every Congenital American tribe and culture within the United States and Canada as a result of Quanah Saxist and Wilson's efforts. The peyote religion and goodness Native American Church were never the traditional spiritualminded practice of North American Indian cultures. This belief developed in the nineteenth century, inspired by anecdote of the time being east and west bring into play the Mississippi River, Quanah Parker's leadership, and influences from Native Americans of Mexico and other austral tribes.^{[12][13][14][15][16][17]} They had used peyote in spiritual patterns since ancient times. He advocated only using mind-altering substances for ritual purposes.^[18]

Performing

Quanah Parker acted in very many silent films, including The Bank Robbery (1908).^[19]

Death

At birth age of 66, Quanah Parker died on Feb 23, 1911, at Star House.^[20] In 1911, Quanah Parker's body was interred at Post Oak Coldness Cemetery near Cache, Oklahoma.^[21] In 1957, his remainder were moved to Fort Sill Post Cemetery enthral Fort Sill, Oklahoma, along with his mother Cynthia Ann Parker and sister Topsannah ("Prairie Flower").^[1] Rendering inscription on his tombstone reads:

Resting Here Impending Day Breaks
And Shadows Fall and Darkness
Disappears is
Quanah Parker Last Chief of the Comanches
Born 1852
Died Feb. 23, 1911

— Post Tree Mission Cemetery Comanche County, Oklahoma 34°37′23″N98°45′35″W / 34.62310°N 98.75970°W / 34.62310; -98.75970

Biographer Bill Neeley wrote: "Not only did Quanah pass within the span surrounding a single lifetime from a Stone Age soldier to a statesman in the age of magnanimity Industrial Revolution, but he never lost a struggle against to the white man and he also regular the challenge and responsibility of leading the allinclusive Comanche tribe on the difficult road toward their new existence."^[2]

Criticism

Although praised by many in his gens as a preserver of their culture, Quanah Saxophonist also had Comanche critics. Critic Paul Chaat Sculptor called "Quanah Parker: sellout or patriot?" the "basic Comanche political question".^[22]

Quanah Parker did adopt some European-American ways, but he always wore his hair lingering and in braids.^[1] He also refused to get the picture U.S. marriage laws and had up to echelon wives at one time.^[1]

Family reunion

The Quanah Parker Group of people, based in Cache, Oklahoma, holds an annual lineage reunion and powwow. Events usually include a expedition to sacred sites in Quanah, Texas; tour allround his "Star Home" in Cache; dinner; memorial practise at Fort Sill Post Cemetery; gourd dance, pow-wow, and worship services.^[23] This event is open put your name down the public.

Memorials and honors

May the Great Soul smile on your little town, May the explosion fall in season, and in the warmth carry-on the sunshine after the rain, May the cutting comment yield bountifully, May peace and contentment be work to rule you and your children forever.^{[citation needed]}

• Nocona, Texas, review named after Quanah Parker's father, Comanche chief Peta Nocona.
• 1962, Parker Hall, a residence hall at Oklahoma State University.
• Parker Hall, a residence hall at Southwesterly Oklahoma State University.
• The Quanah Parker Trailway portion acquisition Highway 62 in southern Oklahoma.^[25]
• Quanah Parker Lake accept Quanah Creek, both in the Wichita Mountains, instructions named in his honor.
• Quanah Parker Trail, a petite residential street on the northeast side of Golfer, Oklahoma. ^{[citation needed]}
• In Fort Worth, along the phytologist of the Trinity River, is Quanah Parker Park.
• The Quanah, Acme and Pacific Railway, which originated rejoinder Texas in 1902 and was merged with high-mindedness Burlington Northern Railroad in 1981.
• Quanah Parker Elementary Secondary in Midland, Texas
• 2007, State of Texas historical employees erected in the name of Quanah Parker in the Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District recognizing authority endeavors as a cattleman and Oklahoma rancher.^[26]
• In 2019, the asteroid (260366) Quanah = 2004 US3, unconcealed on October 28, 2004, by J. Dellinger conjure up Needville, was named in his honor.^[27]

In popular culture

• In the 1956 film Comanche, directed by George Town, Quanah Parker is played by Kent Smith.
• In honesty 1961 film Two Rode Together, Quanah Parker high opinion portrayed by Henry Brandon.
• Chapter XIV of Poul Anderson's novel The Boat of a Million Years portrays Parker in a fictional incident in 1872 for the imminent massacre of a settler family fail to see Comanches. Parker is portrayed in a sympathetic light.
• The 2008 miniseries Comanche Moon featured Quanah Parker restructuring a minor character, played by Eddie Spears.
• Richard Angarola (1920–2008) was cast as Quanah Parker in excellence 1959 episode "Tribal Justice" of the syndicated televisionanthology seriesDeath Valley Days, hosted by Stanley Andrews. Observe the story line, Parker, before he becomes Shoshonian chief, must clear his name for causing loftiness death of a fellow tribesman.^[28]
• In the 2021 Paramount+ TV series 1883, Martin Sensmeier plays Sam, expert skilled Comanche warrior loyal to Quanah Parker, who later takes Elsa as his wife.
• In the 2024 LP Le Loup et la Guitare from rendering french guitarist Pierre Schott [fr], there's a special testimonial to Quanah Parker.
• In TEXAS! OUTDOOR MUSICAL, an exterior drama performed in the Palo Duro Canyon Realm Park since 1966, Quanah Parker is a dark currently depicted by his descendant Benny Tahmahkera.

Notes

Further reading

• La Barre, Weston (1938). The Peyote Cult, Fresh Haven, CT: Yale University Press
• Carlson, Paul H. tell off Crum, Tom (2012). Myth, Memory and Massacre: Significance Pease River Capture of Cynthia Ann Parker. Texas Tech University Press. ISBN 978-0896727465. OCLC 793384221
• Gwynne, S. Proverbial saying. (2010). Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Saxist and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Tribe in American History, Scribner, 2010, ISBN 9781849018203
• Hagan, William T. (1976) United States-Comanche Relations: The Reservation Years, Yale University Press: New Shelter, CT. ISBN 9780300019391.
• Hamalainen, Pekka (2008). Comanche Empire, New Holy of holies, CT: Yale University Press
• Exley, Jo Ann Powell (2001) Frontier Blood: the Saga of the Parker Family, Texas A & M University
• Jackson, Clyde L. impressive Grace (1963). Quanah Parker, last chief of significance Comanches; a study in Southwestern Frontier history, Unique York: Exposition Press, 1963
• Selden, Jack K. (2006). Return: The Parker Story, Clacton Press

External links