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The LIfe of Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia Ann Parker was born between June 2nd 1824 and May 31st 1825 at Crawford County Illinois. She was buried Feb 21st 1911 after starving herself to death in 1870. -
Birthday
Cynthia Ann Parker was born at Crawford County, Illinois. -
Around this time, the Parker Faimly Moved to Texas
Cynthia was around the age of nine or ten when her family moved to Central Texas and built Fort Parker on the headwaters of the Navasota River (what is now Limestone County). -
Camache Warriors massacred Ft. Parker
Comanche warriors, accompanied by Kiowa and Kichai allies, attacked the fort and killed several of its inhabitants. The Comanches also seized five captives, including Cynthia Parker. -
Cynthia is Found
In the mid-1840s Cynthia's brother, John Parker, who had been captured with her and later escaped, asked her to return to their white family, but she refused; she explained that she loved her husband and children too much to leave them. -
An Encounter of Colonel Leonard G. Williams
A newspaper account describes an encounter of Col. William's trading party with Cynthia, who was encamped on the Canadian River with Comanches. Although, despite WIlliams's ransom offers, tribal leaders refused to release Cynthia. -
Texas Ranger Attack at Mule Creek
Texas Rangers under Lawrence SUllivan Ross attacked a Comanche hunting camp at Mule Creek. During this raid the rangers captured three of the supposed Indians. They were surprised to find an Anglo-American, whom Colonel Isaac Parker later identified as his niece. She accompanied her uncle to Birdville on the condition that military interpreter Horace P. Jones would send along her sons if they were found. -
The Sympathetic Texas Legislature
The Texas Legislature voted Cynthia a grant of $100 annually for five years and a league of land and appointed Isaac D. and Benjamin F, Parker her gaurdians. Despite this, she made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the Comanches. The involvement of the Texas legislature shows her political impact. -
Cynthia Dies of Influenza from Starving Herself
Cynthia died in Frankton in 1870 (some historians believe that she died in 1864, shortly after the death of her young daughter). Her legacy for bridging two different cultures was carried on by her son, Quanah; he then became a powerful Comanche leader in very difficult times. Although, Cynthia became important for her bridging of two cultures, achieveing this by adopting the Comanche culture; both Cynthia and her son served as links between the Anglo and Comanche cultures. -
The Burial of Cynthia Ann Parker
Cynthia was buried in Fosterville Cemetery in Anderson County. She has made social impacts such as her kidnapping, the death of her children, and her often attempts to return to her Comanche family. Cynthia Ann Parker lived a life little known to most Anglo-Americans.
