James W. Parker facts for kids

James W. Parker (born July 4, 1797 – died 1864) was an important person in early Texas history. He was the uncle of Cynthia Ann Parker and the great-uncle of Quanah Parker, who became the last chief of the Comanches. James Parker was part of a large family that moved to eastern Texas in the 1830s, seeking new land and opportunities.

In 1836, James Parker was at Fort Parker when it was attacked by Comanches and their allies. During this attack, several of his family members were taken. This included his daughter, Rachel Plummer, his grandson, James Plummer, his niece Cynthia Ann Parker, and his nephew John Richard Parker. James Parker then spent many years searching for his lost relatives. He traveled through the lands where the Comanches lived, determined to find them.

Many historians believe that James Parker's story inspired the main character, Ethan Edwards, in the famous John Ford movie The Searchers. This movie is about a man who spends years searching for his kidnapped niece.

Early Life and Family Moves

James W. Parker was born on July 4, 1797, in northeast Georgia. His parents were Elder John Parker and Sally (White) Parker. He had many brothers and sisters. His older brother, Daniel Parker, became a well-known preacher. When James was six, his family moved to Tennessee in 1803.

He spent most of his younger years in Tennessee. In 1815, at age eighteen, James moved with his family to the Illinois area. There, he married Martha (Patsy) Duty on July 14, 1816. For several years, he and his family farmed in Illinois. They often thought about moving to Texas. In 1830, they moved to Arkansas. From there, they made trips to explore Texas.

In 1832, Parker suggested to Stephen F. Austin that his family and fifty other families could settle in Texas. This area was then considered part of the Comancheria, the land of the Comanche people. Austin did not respond to his idea.

Moving to Texas and Building Fort Parker

In 1834, James Parker and most of his family moved to Texas. James first tried to get land in one area, then another. Finally, on April 1, 1835, he was given his own land grant. This meant he officially owned land in Texas.

He joined his brothers, Silas and Benjamin, and their families. They moved to their new land and built Fort Parker. This fort was located near what is now Groesbeck, Texas. It was finished in March 1834, even before James officially owned the land. His father, Elder John Parker, and his stepmother also joined them.

Fort Parker was built with tall, pointed log walls, about 12 feet (3.7 meters) high. It covered about 4 acres (16,000 square meters). There were strong blockhouses at two corners. These were used for lookouts and defense. Six cabins were built inside the walls. The fort had a large front gate and a smaller back gate for easy access to water.

Most families still slept inside the fort for safety. Elder John Parker had made peace agreements with some local Native American leaders. He believed these agreements would protect the settlement. However, James Parker was not so sure. He knew that the Comanche were not a single group, and not all bands would follow one treaty. His brother Silas had also started a local Texas Ranger company. James worried this might anger some Native American groups.

The Fort Parker Attack

On May 19, 1836, a large group of Comanche and allied warriors attacked Fort Parker. Five men were killed. Two women and three children were captured. James Parker was working in the fields when the attack happened. His daughter, Rachel Parker Plummer, was captured. Her three-year-old son, James Pratt Plummer, was also taken. His brother Silas's children, Cynthia Ann and John Richard, were captured too. His stepsister, Elizabeth Duty Kellogg, was also taken.

His sister-in-law, Elizabeth Duty Kellogg, was quickly bought back by Sam Houston. His daughter, Rachel, was bought back from the Comanche after almost two years. She described her time as very difficult. She said her newborn son was killed by the Comanche because they felt he slowed her down. The terrible condition Rachel was in when she returned, and her death soon after, made James Parker very determined. He wanted to find his grandson, niece, and nephew.

Rachel had wanted to be rescued, and her son accepted rescue. But his niece, Cynthia Ann, and nephew, John Richard, did not want to leave the Native Americans. Cynthia Ann lived with the Comanches for almost 25 years. Her brother, John, lived with them for at least 13 years. Cynthia Ann was asked more than once if she wanted to be rescued, but she refused. She asked to stay with the Comanche. John was forced to return to the white settlers after a payment was made. However, he later ran away and returned to the Native Americans.

James Parker's Long Search

James Parker had strong feelings about Native Americans even before the Fort Parker attack. He wrote in his diary that his feelings began during the War of 1812 when his brother died. He felt a strong desire to find his family. He prayed for their "speedy civilization and Christianization."

His feelings grew stronger after hearing his daughter Rachel's story. He wrote about his deep sadness over her suffering and the death of her child. Rachel said that six weeks after her son was born, the warriors decided he was a burden. They then killed her son. Rachel also spoke of her own difficult experiences during captivity.

Parker searched for his daughter, grandson, niece, and nephew for nine years, from 1836 to 1845. He saw his daughter rescued, but she died less than a year later. Doctors said she died from childbirth problems. However, Parker believed she died from the harsh treatment she received from the Comanche. He also believed it was from the loss of her children. Rachel was only twenty years old when she died, and her red hair had turned gray.

James Parker asked the President of Texas and later the Governor of Texas for help. He wanted them to send soldiers to get his family back. Many people felt sorry for the Parker family. Some, like Sam Houston, even gave money. Houston paid to rescue Elizabeth Kellogg. But no official of the Republic of Texas would send a large military group. Sam Houston offered to talk with the Comanche. But Parker refused, as he did not want to negotiate with those who had harmed his family.

Faced with no official help, Parker decided to go alone into the Comancheria. He risked danger every day. He escaped from the Comanches at least five times when they tried to capture him. His adventures seemed unbelievable. But other people and Native Americans confirmed parts of his story, so it is believed to be true. Parker's constant efforts to get captives back did help lead to the 1840 Council House Fight.

James Pratt Plummer's Return

During Parker's long search, his own family lived in poverty. They often relied on help from others. His son-in-law, Luther Plummer, stayed home and became successful. James Parker felt strongly that Luther should have helped search for Rachel and their son.

Parker also believed Luther should have helped pay for the searches. Parker claimed Luther never paid him back for the money spent to find Rachel. Later, James Parker managed to get both John Richard Parker and his own grandson, James Pratt Plummer, back. John Richard was older and found it hard to adjust to white life. He soon ran away to rejoin the Comanche. James Pratt Plummer was younger and adapted better. His grandfather also watched him very closely.

Parker then refused to return his grandson to his father. He said Luther Plummer had not paid for his ransom. Luther Plummer asked the Governor of Texas for help. The Governor agreed that James Pratt should go back to his father. But Parker simply refused to follow the order. Luther Plummer had remarried and had another child. He did not push the matter further, and his son stayed with his grandfather.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1845, James Parker's first wife, Martha, could no longer bear his yearly searches. His other five children had grown up without him. She was tired of living in poverty. There were also rumors about Parker's activities, including claims of murder and robbery. He had to place an advertisement in the newspaper to deny these rumors. Parker stated he was in a different part of the country when these crimes happened.

After his first wife died on October 3, 1846, Parker married Lavina E. Chaffin on April 26, 1847. He died in 1864 in Houston County, Texas. He is buried in Pilgrim Cemetery in Anderson County, near Elkhart.

Even though he stopped his personal search, Parker continued to give money to anyone who claimed to have seen his niece, Cynthia Ann. He lived the rest of his life with his wife and family. His nine-year search for his family led to incredible adventures. He even admitted in his published diary that he understood why people might not believe his stories.

He wrote that he went alone on these trips because he could not take enough men to fight the Native Americans. His only hope was to secretly buy or steal the captives. He believed that fewer people with him meant less chance of being discovered and killed.

Inspiration for The Searchers

The writer Alan Le May visited a descendant of the Parker family in Texas. He saw Parker family sites before writing his novel The Searchers. Ben Parker, the descendant, said that LeMay was more interested in James Parker than in Cynthia Ann. James had searched for Cynthia Ann for eight years after she was taken.

Historians and movie critics believe that James Parker was the inspiration for the character Ethan Edwards in the John Ford movie The Searchers. They note that James W. Parker spent much of his life and money searching for his niece. This is very similar to Ethan Edwards in the film. Also, the "rescue" of Cynthia Ann in the movie, during a Texas Ranger attack, is like the rescue of Debbie Edwards in the film.

The movie The Searchers has inspired many American filmmakers. These include Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and others. They all grew up watching the film and say it influenced their own movies. Some suggest that Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver is a modern version of The Searchers. The main character, Travis Bickle, is an obsessed taxi driver. His violent actions and personal code are similar to Ethan Edwards/James Parker. Also, the person he tries to "rescue," played by Jodie Foster, does not want to be rescued. This mirrors Cynthia Ann Parker's story.