Navasota Ranch: Old Fort Parker, Groesbeck, Texas

After the Service Project, we went to the Old Fort Parker State Park, in Groesbeck, Texas.

Old Fort Parker

Visitor Center

Arrow Heads found in Limestone County

Large Spear Tip

Map of Limestone County 1871

Arrow Head display

Elder Gibson

Old Fort Parker

Our Army Tent set up in the middle of the Fort.

Cabin Interior

Peg Hinges for the Door

Upper Peg Hing

Exterior Fireplace

Door Lock

Golden Crab Spider caught this Yellow Sulphur Butterfly

John Parker

1758-1836

Revolutionary Soldier

Peg and Block Construction

On May 19, 1836, shortly after three of the men left to work in the fields, a band of about five hundred Comanche and Kiowa Indians attacked the fort. Benjamin Parker was the first to be killed as he approached the band in a gesture of friendship, and four more men were killed as they attempted to defend women, and children. One woman managed to leave the fort and warn the men working in the fields, who in turn alerted four neighbors. The Indians rode away at the approach of armed men.

Fearing the Indians would return the men hid the small groups of survivors in a creek bottom. The next morning, equipped with horses and provisions from the fort, the group of survivors, unknown to the first, started for Fort Houston on foot the day of the attack. Led by James Parker, they arrived six days latter.

Two women and three children were captured in the attack. All but two were ransomed within relatively short time. John Parker, 6 and Cynthia Ann, 9 - both children of Silas Parker lived with separate Comanche bands. John is said to have become a Comanche warrior, married a Mexican captive, and then settled on a ranch in Mexico.

Cynthia Ann, resisting ransom offers several times, married a Comanche chief, Peta Nacoma. She was recaptured with her daughter at the Battle of Pease River in 1860 but could not readjust to the ways of her white kin. She died in 1864. A son Quanah, later became one of the great Comanche chiefs of Texas.