Why did I perform ALL of this research of over 5,000 Comanche families?

From the time I was very young, I’m now 78 years old and was born in Quanah, Texas. So my  interested in Quanah Parker goes back most of my life. Initially I was only interested in Quanah, the leader of the Quahadi Indians.  As time went by I became more interested in the Comanche people.

 My father had a leather [Shoe, Boots-Saddles etc.] business in 1925 in Altus Oklahoma. During that period he had  close friends were some of the Parkers. It was before I was born, but I remember my mother telling me about it.

In those days Altus was a small town some 50 miles west of Cache, where Quanah lived in the Star House. Lawton was larger and closer to the Star House and he visited that more often.

But he and his family would often travel through Altus to go to Quanah, Texas, his namesake city.

These trips would be both for business and pleasure. Business trips were because he was a part owner of the Quanah Acme & Pacific Railroad. It had their headquarters in Quanah and it was started in 1903. There was a connection there to the existing Ft. Worth - Denver Railroad.

His pleasure trips there were partly because of his close friendship his many friends in and around the area. He made regular visits to rodeos, parade and hunts with Burk Burnett and Charles Goodnight who were both owners of large Texas ranches. There were many regular festivities held in Quanah during the period which he attended and often as the honored guest. Altus was probably a good stopping point along the way during these the trips.

My mother told me that during the period of my father’s business in Altus he had a good friend who was the son of Quanah. She said that he was known and answered to “Quanah Jr.”  Based upon the time and ages of my dad and the Parker sons, it was probably one of the following: Kelsey Parker, Len [Ne-hi-O] or Johnny Parker. But I do not know which with any certainty.

That story plus the fact that I was born in Quanah, Texas imbedded the name   “Quanah” to always be in the back of my mind and has caused me to have a great interest in Quanah as a man of history..

Much has been written about Quanah.  In my study of history his ability for growth is unequaled anywhere by anyone when all aspects are considered.

I admired him for many reasons. He demonstrated a capacity and ability for adaptation and maturations that no other great leader ever did. Comparably Alexander the Great of Macedon, Julius Caesar of the Roman Empire, Napoleon, Roosevelt, all had significant startup help in the ways of the world at birth. They included assistance from their family, along with education, culture, language, money and training that far exceeded what Quanah received in his early life. His training was limited to character, leadership, bravery, and the necessities of a roaming life on the plains. Hardly an equivalent preparation to prepare for the new world he would later enter into so abruptly. 

In June of 1874 Adobe Walls he showed his leadership by example and his personal bravery by riding into the direct fire,  of about 15 buffalo hunters armed with large bore rifles and very accurate marksmanship, to rescue a fallen comrade.

Quanah would continue to prove his outstanding qualities of bravery, leadership, adaptability and intelligence in the coming years.

The big change started when he showed wisdom, far beyond his youth.  He called the Quahadi together and explained his belief in the futility of the continuation of their struggle to preserve their existing life style. They were fighting overwhelming odds and there was a distinct probability of their complete extinction.

Their life as they knew it would come to an end on a spring day in 1875 as the Chief of his people, he led about 100 warriors, 300 women and children and about 1,400 horses into Ft. Sill and at that moment in history Quanah stepped into a totally new world. While  would present other problems it would be a new and more peaceful life

He put away his bull hide shield, his war bonnet and accepted it in a manner that few leaders could do. He had never been captured and never lost a battle with the Texas Rangers and had survived years with a large portion of the U.S. Army trying to capture him. His resilience and ability  were clearly evident.

In that new life he mastered all the skills anyone could hope for by learning the both Spanish and English languages and demonstrating great skills in negotiations in Washington with Senators and even the President for the benefits of his people. He did this while gaining the great respect of the men he was negotiating with. Later President Theodore Roosevelt become his friend and would visit him in Cache.  He became wealthy from many business and ranching endeavors and gave most of it away to the needy of  tribe.

There is no leader in history who I know that has matched his  record from physical bravery, leadership, generosity, intelligence, adaptability and also gained the enduring level of respect and historical recognition that Quanah did in his short 59 years.

I have a great affinity and admiration for Quanah and hold a lifelong interest in him. For many years, I have been studying and researching him and his life. We are fortunate that over the span of history and the many leaders of the world, his life was so recent and well recorded that we can easily learn about it.

All of who have his blood in their veins should be very proud to have that heritage. My respect and admiration of him and my ability and of experience in doing historical research has been used in gathering records on him and almost all of his descendants. I have also gathered a large amount of photographs of his contemporaries.  I am able to identify,  document and verify the relationship between Quanah and about 800 of his direct descendants.   

Now my research is pretty well completed. I wish to share with all who are his direct descendants and others who are related and/or  interested.

I have paid all expenses concerning the research but will need to charge a small fee and some small assistance in making it known and providing it to those who are interested and  who wish to know about the people and of their their proud ancestry to Quanah.  

I have previously published a book on the Civil War similar to the effort on Quanah, detailed information on persons associated with the time and events. It is located at     https://members.tripod.com/~Civil_War_13th_Miss/index-2.html      A review of this website will give an example of the quality and detail of my research. There are also two reviews included. One is by Patrick Brennan for the NORTH & SOUTH MAGAZINE and the other by Nancianne P. Suber, published in a January 2002 issue of the Jackson, Mississippi newspaper, ‘The Clarion-Ledger.”

My research is from many sources such as genealogical and historical sections of libraries, government sources both published and un-published and others. The genealogical relationship I will offer is documented and verifiable. I am asking that the Comanche Tribe assist me in the effort to spread this research information to the tribe and the descendants and ancestors of Quanah.

Who would not be proud to have documentation of that direct relationship?