Home | History | Programs | Events | Volunteer | Heritage Foundation | Cabin Galleries | Contact Us | Links | Hours
The Story Of Cynthia Ann Parker
During the 1830s,Texas was a contested homeland for Native Americans, Mexicans, and Anglos. Although they had agreed to become Mexican citizens when they moved to Texas, the new Anglo settlers, unfamiliar with Mexican customs, language, traditions, and government, became increasingly restless with the differences, and thus initiated the move for Texas Independence. Many Indian nations, who saw their hunting grounds, settlements, and way of life disappearing, also rightfully claimed, and fought for, their native land. As a defense and point of attack against Indians and Mexican troops, the Parkers built a log fort in 1835, near the present town of Groesbeck. It was there that on May 19, 1836, a band of Comanches with their Kiowa allies made "one of the most destructive raids ever made along the Texas Frontier". They attacked the fort, killing several and taking five captives. Among those taken into captivity were nine year old Cynthia Ann Parker and her six year old brother Johnnie, the niece and nephew of Isaac Parker. Twenty-four years had elapsed before the Parkers heard from Cynthia Ann again. There had been rumors over the years of a blond, blue-eyed captive who was the wife of Nacona, a Comanche chief. Then in 1860, a company of Texas Rangers under the command of Captain Lawrence Sullivan Ross, later to become Governor of Texas, attacked a band of Indians near the Pease River. Two of the captives taken by the Rangers during the battle were a white woman and her child. It was against the woman's will that she and her daughter, Topsanah (Prairie Flower), were taken to Camp Cooper by the Rangers. Word was sent to the settlements that a woman had been captured, and who from the age and appearance could be the long-lost Parker girl. Isaac Parker got there at night of the fourth day, too late to see the captives. The woman and her child were brought from the guardhouse the next morning. With the aid of an interpreter, she was interviewed. Senator Parker eyed her closely. Noting her features, he said, "She has the appearance of my people. I believe she is the long-lost Cynthia Ann." At this she quietly patted her chest and said "Me Cynthia Ann." Satisfied that she was his niece, Parker brought her and the little girl to his Birdville home (the Parker Cabin). Accounts relate that she would wander off into the woods, slash her breast and pray in hope of being reunited with Nacona and their two sons, Pecos and Quanah. She stayed only briefly with her Uncle before being sent to other Parker relatives in East Texas. Topsanah died of pneumonia, and Cynthia Ann never got over her longing for Nacona, her sons, and her way of life. She died sometime after 1870, while still living with her Anglo relatives, whom she no longer considered as her people. It is said that she died of a broken heart.