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The
name NACONA is taken from the father of
Quanah Parker, the last of the free Comanche
chiefs. Peta Nacona (or Nocona) was the
chief of the Qhuahada band of
Comanches, who lived on the Southwest's
Llano Estecado many generations before
European man intruded.
It is
debated how the Comanches and other tribes
first got horses. But once acquired, the
Comanche bands of the Southwest quickly
became master horsemen. With horses they
could migrate freely with the buffalo across
the enormous great plains of the central
continent.
Once
European man began his land grabbing and
systematic decimation of the bison, the
Comanche and other tribes of the plains were
doomed. But surrender to starvation on a
plot of worthless land called a reservation?
This was not easily accepted by the
Comanche.
Peta
Nacona was known as a proud and fearless
leader. His band fought to retain the
hunting grounds of their ancestors. In May,
1836, his band raided the settlement at Fort
Parker, Texas (nearby present day Mexia and
Groesbeck). Five settlers were killed in the
attack, and five captured. One captive was
nine-year-old Cynthia Parker.
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Cynthia Ann Parker grew up in
something we call captivity; but after a short
time, she did not recognize it as such.
She grew
to become wife of Nacona, bearing him three children.
Cynthia remained with Nacona's
band until recaptured at age 33 at the Pease
River Massacre in 1860.
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A son, Quanah, became the last and
most famous Comanche chief even though he was
half-white.
Within
ten years of her forcible return to her white
family, Cynthia died.
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