Quanah Parker

In 1833, the large pioneer family of John and his wife Sarah Parker settled an area near the Navasota River, two miles west of what is now Groesbeck, Texas, to farm and raise their families. Although peace was made with some of the local Indians, the settlers built a fort as protection against hostile Indians. Completed in March 1834, the fort consisted of 12-foot high log walls enclosing the four-acre community which included two blockhouses on two corners for lookouts and six cabins attached to the inside walls. The fort had two entrances, a large double gate facing south, and a small gate for easy access to the spring. Most all of the residents of the fort were part of the family of 77-year-old John Parker, including children, spouses, cousins and grandchildren. The settlers farmed the land outside the fort, some builing small homes on their farms, and using the fort as protection and community events. Life was fairly peaceful until May 19, 1836 when a large party of Indians (Comanches, Kiowas, Caddos and Wichitas) approached the front gate under the pretense of peace. Approximately 25 persons were in the fort at the time. Sensing danger, the men quickly got most women and children out the smaller gate to safety within mere minutes of a sudden and vicious attack through the large front gate that left five men and two women slaughtered (including John Parker and two of his three sons), and three young children taken captive. 

John Parker's 9-year-old granddaughter, Cynthia Ann (whose father, Silas Parker, was killed in the massacre) was one of the captives. She was taken to a Commanche camp where she was given the name Nadua (Someone Found) and raised as one of their own. She eventually forgot her English language and took the Comanche way of life. When she was 19 years old, she married Peta Nocona, son of the famous Chief Iron Jacket (named after a Spanish coat of mail that he wore into battle). Their first son, Quanah (Fragrance) is said to have been born in the Wichita Mountains about 1845, but he later understood his birthplace to be Laguana Sabinas (Cedar Lake) in Gaines County, Texas. A second son, Peanuts, was born around 1852, and a daughter named Topsana (Prairie Flower) soon after.  In December 1860, the Texas Rangers captured Cynthia Ann and little Topsana in the Battle of Pease River, where her husband Nacona was killed.  Quanah, then 15 years old, escaped on horseback with his younger brother.  Cynthia Ann and her daughter were reunited with the Parker family in Anderson County, Texas, however, after living with the Comanches for 24 years, she could not adjust to the white man's way of life. She made several attempts to escape but, sadly when Topsana died of influenza in 1864, Cynthia Ann, in her grief, starved herself to death shortly afterward. 

When Quanah escaped the Battle of Pease River, he joined up with Chief Wild Horse and the Destanyka band where he grew to considerable standing as a warrior. He later left and formed the Quahahdi band with warriors from another tribe, soon becoming the largest and most notorious of the Comanche bands. On November 26, 1864, the Indians attacked buffalo hunters at the desolate outpost of Adobe Walls in the Texas Panhandle in an attempt to get rid of white buffalo hunters who were killing their food supply. Later, in October 1867, Quanah (then age 22) attended peace treaty negotiations at Medicine Lodge in Kansas between Plains Indians and the U.S. Army.  He strongly refused to sign the treaty which would have sent his band to reservations in Oklahoma along with other bands who did sign; he and his people remained free to continue their fight against the whites. In the early 1870s, the Indians were losing the battle for their lands and U.S. Army forces were rounding up or killing the remaining Indians who had not settled on reservations. On June 27, 1874, the Second Battle of Adobe Walls pitted the Army against the Indians in retaliation of the first (1864) Battle of Adobe Walls, which left Quanah with a shoulder injury. Then, on September 28, 1874 Army soldiers attacked a Comanche village at Palo Duro Canyon and killed nearly 1,500 horses, a source of Comanche wealth and power. With their food source depleted, and under constant pressure from the army, Quanah (age 30) finally surrendered in May 1875 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and his people were resettled onto the reservation there. Quanah's tribe was the last tribe to come to the reservation.  He was named chief over all the Comanches on the reservation, and proved to be a forceful, resourceful and able leader. After moving to the reservation, Quanah got in touch with his white relatives from his mother's family. He stayed for a few weeks with them, where he studied English and Western culture, and learned white farming techniques.

Changing weather patterns and severe drought in 1874 caused grasslands to wither and die in Texas, and cattleman Samuel Burk Burnett moved his ranch operations to the Wichita Falls, Texas area in 1881. There, he and other ranchers including Charles Goodnight met with Quanah and other tribal leaders and negotiated to lease nearly one million acres of land on their reservation, just north of the Red River on which to graze their cattle. Originally opposed to the white man grazing on reservation land, Quanah changed his thoughts and forged close relationships with a number of Texas cattlemen, and as early as 1880, he was working with these new associates to build his own herds. In 1884, due largely to Quanah's efforts, the tribes received their first "grass" payments for grazing rights which continued until 1902.

Quanah Parker

As Quanah adapted to the white man's life, and through wise investments, he became perhaps the wealthiest American Indian of his day in the United States. He nevertheless rejected both monogamy and traditional Christianity in favor of his Native American Church Movement (peyote religion), which he founded.  His spacious, two-story Star House in Cache, Oklahoma had a bedroom for each of his seven wives and their children (he fathered 25 children over the years). He had his own private quarters, which were said to be rather plain. Beside his bed were photographs of his mother Nadua (Cynthia Ann) and his sister Topsana. He extended hospitality to many influential people, both Indian and white. He earned the respect of U.S. government leaders and went on hunting trips with President Theodore Roosevent, who visited him often. Of all his white acquaintances, he counted Burk Burned his best friend which he reportedly said, "I got one good friend, Burk Burnett. He big-hearted, rich cowman. Help my people good deal. You see big man hold tight to money, afraid to die. Burnett help anybody." Burnett and Quanah worked together for over 27 years, including locating the remains of Cynthia Ann and Topsana and having them reinterred at Fort Sill's reservation in 1910 with granite headstones marking their burial sites. 

Quanah Parker died pf pneumonia at Star House on February 23, 1911 at the age of 66, and is buried at Fort Sill's Post Cemetery beside his mother and sister. Biographer Bill Neeley wrote: "Not only did Quanah pass within the span of a single lifetime from a Stone Age warrior to a statesman in the age of the Industrial Revolution, but he never lost a battle to the white man and he also accepted the challenge and responsibility of leading the whole Comanche tribe on the difficult road toward their new existence."

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In case you missed the notice published by the IRS in July, the standard mileage rate for business miles increased to 55.5 cents a mile beginning July 1^st. This is an increase of 4.5 cents from the 51 cents rate in effect for the first six months of 2011.

Each year, two million American homes and families experience losses from wildfires or flames sparked by accidental fires. In the aftermath of a fire, whether it's the whole house or a kitchen fire, people try to save what they can -- including food. Generally, saving food that's been in a fire is never a good idea.  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) wants to make consumers aware of food safety following a fire:

·         Heat from a fire, smoke fumes and chemicals used to fight fire can compromise food.

·         Food in cans or jars may appear to be unaffected, but if they've been close to the heat of a fire, they may no longer be safe. Heat from a fire can activate food spoilage bacteria. If a can ruptures as a result of a blaze, the food inside will be unsafe.

·         Toxic fumes released from burning materials can kill and they can also contaminate food. Any type of food stored in permeable packaging (cardboard, plastic wrap, etc.) should be thrown away. Surprisingly, food stored in refrigerators or freezers can also become contaminated by fumes. The refrigerator seal isn't airtight and fumes can get inside. If food from your refrigerator has an off-flavor or odor, throw it away.

·         Chemicals used to fight fires contain toxic materials and can contaminate food and cookware. The chemicals cannot be washed off of food. Foods that are exposed to firefighting chemicals should be thrown away. This includes food stored at room temperature, as well as foods stored in permeable containers like cardboard and screw-topped jars and bottles.

·         Canned goods and cookware exposed to chemicals can be decontaminated by washing items in a strong detergent and then dipping them in a bleach solution composed of 1 tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water for 15 minutes.

·         When in doubt, throw it out!

Aug. 4: Coast Guard Day; Aug. 5: Sisters Day; Aug. 6: Atomic Bomb Day; Aug. 7: Friendship Day; Aug. 9: Smokey Bear's Birthday, Book Lovers Day; Aug. 14: VJ Day; Aug. 19: National Aviation Day; Aug. 20: National Homeless Animals Day; Aug 26: Women's Equality Day.

On August 4, 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service was created by the U.S. Congress. Congress authorized the construction of ten cutters. These ships were built to enforce U.S. tariff laws. The Revenue Cutter Service was the predecessor the U.S. Coast Guard.  The name "Coast Guard" was first used in 1915. U.S. Coast Guard Day honors the military branch that protects our waters and shorelines. The U.S. Defense Department suggests that this day is largely an internal celebration for all Coast Guard personnel and their families, past and present. But, we'd like to encourage everyone to honor the brave members of this important branch of the military.