The Junior Historian, Volume 15, Number 1, September 1954 Page: 13
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Texas Historian and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Texas State Historical Association.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
THE JUNIOR HISTORIAN
THE MASSACRE AT PARKER'S FORT
by THOMAS WILLIAM WHALEY, JR.
Allen Military Academy, BryanN the southwest corner of Limestone
County on the Navasota River stands
a reproduction of the original fort
founded in 1834 by Silas M. Parker
and James W. Parker, sons of Elder
John Parker. Accompanied by thirty-
eight persons Elder Parker came to this
land of wilderness and uncivilized In-
dians from Illinois. Fort Houston, near
Palestine, was the only other white set-
tlement in the vicinity.
The walls of Parker's Fort were built
of rugged cedar logs ten to twelve feet
high. Inside the stockade six one-room
cabins were built facing the center of
the fort. Two block houses were con-
structed on opposite corners of the
stockade, and they extended over the
wall approximately two feet, allowing
defenders of the fort to fire parallel to
the walls and to prevent the walls from
being set on fire. When manned prop-
erly the fort was impenetrable. Strict
discipline was maintained on completion
of the fort, but as no Indians were en-countered discipline grew lax.
On the morning of May 19, 1836,
some six or eight men left the fort to
work in their fields as usual. About mid-
morning a band of Comanche and Caddo
Indians, numbering about six hundred,
appeared some two hundred yards from
the fort displaying a white flag. Con-
tacting them, Benjamin Parker, another
son of Elder Parker, was told they want-
ed beef and to be shown the way to a
water hole.
On returning to the Stockade Parker
warned the occupants that the Indians
were hostile and to prepare for attack.
Disregarding the pleas of his friends,
Parker returned to the Indians under
the pretense of carrying them food, but
with the intention of stalling for time.
He was killed instantly.
The war-like Indians, shouting blood-
curdling yells, charged ferociously on
the fort before the double gates could be
closed. Some of the settlers managed to
[continued on page 281Allen Academy Junior Historians at the replica of the original Fort Parker. Standing from left to
right: Sam Cunningham, William Garner, sponsor Kenneth Neighbours, and Charles Knight.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Junior Historian, Volume 15, Number 1, September 1954, periodical, September 1954; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth391347/m1/15/?rotate=90: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas State Historical Association.