Parker family members reunion is no normal friends get together

MEXIA – To your Monday, families out of along side county and nation gathered to own good reunion on Fort Parker State Park only southern area out-of Mexia. Specific replaced hugs that have common confronts, while others lead on their own for the first time.

But it was no ordinary relatives reunion. The connections distinguished Tuesday was basically forged as the result of a good tragic experiences many Texans heard of of all time category or discover in all those retellings in courses.

To the early morning out of Could possibly get 19, 1836, a ring regarding Comanche and Kiowa Indians raided Fort Parker, savagely raping and you can eliminating people in the pioneer Parker family members.

Five citizens were taken attentive, in addition to 9-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker, exactly who invested much of their lifetime one of several Comanche, adopting the words and you can traditions of your own group, and you may marrying a leader, Peta Nocona.

Nine age later, Cynthia Ann offered delivery in order to Quanah Parker, who would end up being the tribe’s past chief, a pal from Theodore Roosevelt, and you can a relaxation keeper anywhere between certain groups out-of Indians and you may whites.

Whenever Quanah was only twelve, a company away from Colorado Rangers murdered his dad and you can captured his mom, about to reintroduce this lady to society. Cynthia Ann spent all of the rest of the girl lives trying to return on the Comanche before their dying, just like the legend goes, away from a cracked cardio.

All of the more than 100 descendants at the reunion shadow the origins back once again to the latest Older John Parker, a major Combat soldier out of Illinois, which mainly based new fort inside the 1835 and is actually murdered throughout the slaughter.

Trevor Wardlaw, whom lives in Waco and you will put their wife and you may three babies with each other, are an economic adviser by-day and you may a faraway cousin out of Quanah Parker from the bloodstream. They are the nice-great-great-grandson of Senior Daniel Parker, the earliest son away from John Parker’s five youngsters. Senior Daniel Parker, a self-educated preacher, established the original Protestant chapel into the Texas and you can are instrumental for the undertaking the newest Texas Ranger equipment.

“I suppose selfishly i pursue genealogy to discover more regarding our own private background,” Wardlaw told you. “Someone respects the brand new Colorado Rangers, however, very couple see where they originated in – in fact it is my particular ancestry.”

In addition they continue to have a stronger collection of loved ones details dating back once again to 1833

“It is the facts by itself you to definitely holds anybody with her,” said Jack Selden, the author of Get back: The fresh new Parker Facts. Their late wife is a good Parker. “This new powerful facts of Cynthia Ann along with her return – she actually is the heart, long lasting you do.” Selden, who may have as well as authored a play regarding the Parkers, enjoys attended this new reunions going back 2 decades.

The newest strong-seated Tx pride is clear among the “Parker cousins,” because they phone call by themselves. It is really not uncommon to listen to individuals claim he is connected with relative Quanah, Auntie Cynthia Ann, or Papa John Parker.

Scott Nicholson has been going to the new get togethers dating back to he can think of. Brand new Elderly John Parker was their fifth higher-pops for the his mother’s front, in which he is actually descended from your twice (regarding 1800s it was not strange to own second cousins so you’re able to get married).

“All this is taught to me personally of the my parent, who was simply tily – and you may Colorado – history continues now. “My personal several-year-dated boy will show you the entire story,” Nicholson said. “As he is six otherwise seven, the guy planned to discover our house records having bedtime tales.”

Because the fort decrease 176 in years past, a large number away from Parkers features stayed in the new Palestine-Elkhart town. “We didn’t move enough to cure them,” Nicholson told you.

Those yellowed black colored-and-light images and you may old relationships records was rich relics. However, even though some are happy with only the tales one to its grand-parents told her or him, anyone else, such as for example Wardlaw and you can Nicholson, enjoys adopted the fresh pattern into the genealogy and family history – that have their DNA looked at to verify their family members.

As well as society, Saturday’s plan first started toward “company meeting.” Given that cicadas whirred loudly about trees significantly more than, the latest descendants seated into the folding seats outdoors. They said a great prayer, approved Parkers who possess passed away, determined who’s the fresh youngest, brand new oldest and you will hence Parker journeyed the latest farthest discover here.

Champions discover “Parker Family” mugs. This season the fresh glasses went to 88-year-dated Jack Meredith, 9-month-dated Emory Parker Cochran and Barry Parker, exactly who along with his single Herpes dating wife, Becky, drove for the regarding Charleston, Sick.

“We simply wanna meet up and you may check out,” told you 83-year-dated Darwin Gilmore, vice-chairman into the Parker Family members reunion board and you will history year’s champ because oldest attendee. “We’re all looking for family members.”

Of many years have come and you may went

This new Comanche section of the nearest and dearest keeps other yearly reunion, constantly for the Cache, Okla., nearby the chair of your own tribal authorities. A gold pan, from Nicholson’s maternal dad, was traditionally replaced between your light and you may Comanche corners of your own relatives on a yearly basis. The fresh new motion is intended to signify when you find yourself each party out-of the family has actually their unique tradition, all of them are kin.

Following a massive potluck dinner try a market, where people can also be quote into the things such as a licenses plate one to reads “QUANAH1.” The newest auction support improve currency to ensure the group is also keep so you can book the state playground.

Early Weekend day, people that invested the night backpacking in the park’s “barracks” – five traditional (however, air-conditioned) compartments – pack up and say the goodbyes before going out up until second season.

Vendor One

See all author post