115 -- Thomas S. Parker -- Marietta OK
N 33° 55.876 W 097° 15.262
14S E 661344 N 3755907
Grave of Thomas S. Parker (1775-1890), Governor of the Chickasaw nation 1871-1872, in a small cemetery outside of Marietta OK.
Waymark Code: WMF552
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 08/24/2012
Views: 18
Records of Thomas S. Parker are fragmentary, but according to his tombstone he was 115 when he died in 1890. Doing the math: Thomas S. Parker was born in 1775.
He was probably born in the Southeastern US, in or near present-day northeast Mississippi. That is where most Chickashaw lived during Colonial times. The tribe frequently interacted with and traded with European explorers and traders, eventually adopting many European customs as part of their culture. For this reason, the US Government considered the Chickashaws to be one of the Five Civilized Tribes.
The process of westward expansion of American settlers coupled with a general disrespect for any non-white people created problems between the Chickashaw and their neighbors. Eventually the US Government ordered the removal of the Chickashaws from their homes to the newly-created Indian Territory (now present-day Oklahoma) in 1837.
Thomas S. Parker served as Governor of the Chickashaw Nation in 1871-1872.
The Chickasaw Nation in Oklahoma is now the 13th largest federally recognized tribe in the United States.
Parker's descendants still live on the private land surrounding the cemetery. If you should seek this waymark, please be respectful of the private property rights of the Parker descendants and the sanctity of this cemetery.
Location of Headstone: Cemetery
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