Smith County, Texas in Unlikely Places
Several weeks ago, my husband and I were driving back to Tyler from a weekend spent with family. It was during this four hour long car ride that my husband and I stumbled across something that I want to share with you:
While we drive, my husband and I both really enjoy listening to different podcasts. Currently, we’re listening to Lore by Aaron Mahnke, a podcast that focuses on stories of mythology, folklore, and horror and provides real life instances of these stories. Although a few of the stories Aaron goes into can get a little spooky they’re more interesting than anything else!
As my husband and I were driving I picked a Lore episode at random. Aaron is an excellent storyteller and he does a great job of painting a vivid picture for his audiences, and I will credit this ability with my reason for connecting his episode back to Tyler, Texas as quickly as I did. The episode I had so innocently picked was Episode 35: The King– a story about a small island in the Pacific that would become home to heartbreak and survival in the early part of the 1900’s. To listen to this podcast please click here and scroll down to Episode 35.
Aaron states that the island, also known as Clipperton Island (map pictured below), had been under dispute by several countries for some time. Although the British had created a small village there the island was overall uninhabitable and required frequent supply shipments for it to be inhabited successfully. The British all but vacated the island and Mexico decided to send families and soldiers to inhabit what the British had left behind.
Good day. Cyril (CH) Parker was my GrandDaddy! Stumbled across your Clipperton Island recently. He once told my cousin and I this story before bedtime around the summer of 1963 on Pensacola Beach (their summer house at the time). I still recall how we could not go to sleep for several nights afterward that summer!! My Grandfather was the most gentle and gracious man I have ever known. If perchance you see this, Just wanted to say thank you for the memories!
My brother, Grayson Parker above, told me about this article. How exciting to hear this and find it!
We do not know exactly how our Parker family came to Texas? W.H. Parker was Cyril’s Father.
I questioned the possibility that the Texan Parkers had some connection to Quanah Parker who was born to Cynthia Anne Parker. She was taken from the Parker Fort as a child and was raised a Commanche. My father, Grayson Holt Parker, Sr., told me there was in fact a Cynthia Anne Parker in the Parker lineage. I never found out anything more about it.
I would sure like to know if there is a connection. I don’t know much about the Parkers of Texas, as Cyril Parker lived in Pensacola, Florida when I was born. He had been stationed there later in his Naval career, and stayed on until his death.
If you know a way to direct me, I thank You!
Laura Parker
Hello Laura, I will email you about opening an inquiry. Thank you for your comment, Tiffany Wright-Archives Manager