Weatherford’s Comanche Heritage
June 12, 2008
Weatherford is the county seat of Parker County, Texas. Weatherford real estate sits squarely within a territory steeped in Comanche history.
The county was founded and named for pioneer Isaac Parker, the uncle of a woman who became one of the most important people in the history of the Comanche tribe.
As a young girl, Cynthia Ann Parker and her family settled in Texas, near the Clear Fork of the Trinity River. Her family’s fort was one of the most remote white settlements at the time. When she was nine years old, Cynthia and her brother were kidnapped by Comanche warriors during a raid on the family’s homestead. Many of her family members were killed, and Cynthia and her brother were adopted and raised by Comanche families.
A Healer and a Warrior
Cynthia Ann Parker became the adopted granddaughter of one of the great Comanche healers. After learning at her knee, Cynthia also became a renowned medicine woman among her adoptive people. She married one of the great warriors, Nocona – the very one who had kidnapped her as a child. Her oldest son, Quanah Parker, became the Comanche chief who finally negotiated peace between his tribe and the white settlers.
Cynthia Ann was known among the Comanche as Naduah. She rode out on raids with the men, and was eventually recaptured by the white settlers. Her uncle, Isaac, recognized her and brought her home to live among her blood family. She tried to escape many times so she could return to her Comanche family, and finally died, supposedly of a broken heart, at the age of 35.
The entirety of Weatherford real estate sits in the heart of a territory that was once loved and explored by the Comanche tribe, and by a white woman who became Comanche at heart. She raised a son who honored her by taking her last name, and who finally led his people onto the reservation after realizing their way of life on the plains had finally run its course.
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Very interesting blog. I think there are always buyers who do want to know the history of a location they are considering moving to. I happen to know your area well and this is a good blog.
Thank you for writing this little history lesson. I found it quite interesting. I like to visit this area of Texas–I live in Austin. I will think about your article the next time I visit.