Notable Native American Indians “N...-O...-P...-Q...-”
for the social studies classroom and home schoolers.

Osceola
Ely S. Parker

Quanah Parker
Pocahontas

Osceola, Giclee Print George Catlin

Osceola
née Billy Powell
b. c. 1804; Tallassee, Alabama
d. 1-30-1838; Fort Moultrie, Sullivan's Isl., SC (malaria)

Osceola was a war chief of the Seminoles during the Second Seminole War fought against the US in Florida during the 19th century.

He received the name Osceola in adulthood: at birth he was named Billy Powell, the son of English trader and Polly Coppinger of Muscogee and Scottish ancestry.

Osceola is the namesake of several cities, towns and counties as well as a National Forest in Florida.

Ely Samuel Parker
b. 1828; Indian Falls, NY
d. 8-31-1895; Red Cloud Agency, near Crawford, NE

Parker, an Iroquois of the Seneca tribe, was an aide to U.S. Grant and wrote the final draft of the Confederate surrender terms at Appomattox. Parker was educated as both a lawyer and civil engineer.

• Warrior in Two Camps: Ely S. Parker, Union General and Seneca Chief

Quanah Parker
b. ca, 1852; Wichita Mountains, OK
d. 2-23-1911

Comanche chief Quanah Parker was a leader in the Native American Church and the last leader of the powerful Quahadi band before they surrendered their battle of the Great Plains and went to a reservation in Indian Territory.

Parker was the son of Cynthia Ann Parker (1824/5-1870) whose family had pioneered in Texas from Illionis. She was kidnapped and assimilated into the tribe as a nine year old; Quanah father was the warrior Nocona.

FYI - Cynthia Ann Parker was “rescued” by Texas Rangers in 1860; she attempted to rejoin the Comanches for the remainer of her life.

• Where the Broken Heart Still Beats: The Story of Cynthia Ann Parker

Pocahontas
b. c.1595; present day Virginia
d. 3-21-1618; England

Pocahontas, the childhood nickname of Matoaka, a daughter of Wahunsonacock, the “Powhatan” or leader of a Native American confederation in the tidewater area of present day Virginia, figures prominently in the history of the early British settlements of North America. She was reported by Captain John Smith, leader of the Jamestown Settlement, to have saved his life.

In 1614 she and farmer John Rolfe were married and she became known to the English as Lady Rebecca Rolfe. The birth of their son Thomas made the Rolfe family one of the First Families of Virginia (decendents of English settlers). Rebecca Rolfe died just prior to their return to Virginia from a visit to London, likely causes could have been pneumonia, tuberculosis or smallpox.

• more women posters
• The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History

Chief Pontiac
b. 1720; Michigan - Ohio area
d. 4-20-1769; Cahokia, IL

Pontiac was an Ottawa, noted for the conflict called Pontiac's War that began with an attack on Fort Detroit.

• Pontiac and the Indian Uprising

Pushmataha
b. c. 1760; Macon, MS
d. 12-24-1824; Washington, DC

Pushmataha was one of three regional chiefs of the Choctaw. He refused alliance with Tucumseh and lead the Choctaw on the side of the US in the War of 1812, being buried with full military honors in the Congressional Cemetery.