American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

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Weaver, Arizona

 

Table of Contents

 

Weaver Mining Claims Map. 2

Weaver photograph in 2005. 3

William Signa Killed in 1898. 3

Weaver Post Office. 3

Weaver Cemetery Photograph 2005. 4

Weaver Photograph c. 1890’s. 4

Goatherder Woman. 5

 

Weaver's post office was established May 26, 1899 and was discontinued April 19, 1900 because it was moved to nearby Octave. Weaver is the site of the richest placer deposits in Arizona. Nuggets were found lying on the ground at the base of Rich Hill. Overnight Weaver became a success and the city was named in honor of Pauline Weaver, the leader of the expedition that found the gold. Weaver was discovered in the early 1860's and had much trouble with Indians. Weaver was known as a hangout for robbers and thieves and was eventually absorbed into the town of Octave. A few foundations and some current mining remain at the site of Weaver.

Weaver Mining Claims Map

In 1863, the same year that Henry Wickenburg discovered the Vulture mine, Pauline Weaver, a famous western prospector and scout, led a group of people organized by Abraham Harlow Peeples from Yuma into central Arizona Territory.

One night they killed three antelope beside a creek under the rocky hilltop. When some of the party searched for gold by the creek, a man named Alvaro clambered to the top of the hill and found gold nuggets. The creek was named Antelope Creek, the canyon on the east side of the hill became Weaver Gulch, and  the top of the hill that contained the ore became Rich Hill.

Three cities surrounded Rich Hill: Stanton, Weaver and Octave. Back to Weaver, which was a colorful city named after Pauline Weaver who found rich gold ore on Rich Hill.

When the gold ore was depleted, the popular community of Weaver became a dangerous place and made the town of Stanton appear to be a nice place. Weaver became a hide out for thugs, con-men, deadbeats and killers. Some of them were hired by Charles Stanton in his fight for power.

Weaver photograph in 2005

Photograph by: Neal Du Shane 2005

William Signa Killed in 1898

After the killing of William Segna in 1898 who was the owner of a combined saloon and general store, people moved from Weaver because of the perceived and real danger to their lives, moving to Octave, the nearby town halfway between Stanton and Weaver.

Weaver Post Office

Weaver's post office was established May 26, 1899 and was discontinued April 19, 1900 because it was also moved to nearby Octave. After 30 years with non law the gangs were definitely haunted out and Weaver became ghost town.

Weaver Cemetery Photograph 2005

Weaver, Arizona Cemetery in 2005. Photograph by: Neal Du Shane

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Names of those interred at the cemetery:

Weaver Cemetery Roster

Weaver Photograph c. 1890’s

 

Weaver. AZ c. 1890

After the 1898 murder of William Segna, the owner of a saloon-general store, a newspaper article called for the complete eradication of Weaver because of its unsavory inhabitants. The town's few remaining law-abiding citizens left soon after Segna's murder, many relocating to the nearby town of Octave.

Goatherder Woman

 

Courtesy Wickenburg Sun

www.wickenburgsun.com

 

Wednesday, April 9, 2008, pg B-7 - 70 Years Ago

 

Old Goatherder Woman is Dead (Friday, April 8, 1938) Josefa, the goatherder, another of the fantastic characters of the Arizona desert, has passed on.

 

Her real name was Josefa Alvarez, and those in the Octave district who knew her placed her age at between 115 and 120 years. Legends of the wrinkled little woman had it that she once was the virtual queen of an Indian village near San Diego, Calif.

 

She was baptized by the padres who went to California with Father Junipero Serra; was present when the first United States soldiers arrived; and witnessed the adventurous days of the 1849 gold rush.

 

Josefa came to Arizona half a century ago and opened a boarding house for miners at Weaver Creek. For the last 40 years, she had herded goats over the rough hills of the Octave district.

 

Friends found her dead Tuesday. She will be buried at Boot Hill cemetery on Weaver Creek.

 

GOATHERDER WOMAN

Interred at Weaver Cemetery

Cindy Enos

 

Our attentions quickly diverted to the finding of Josefa Alverez (The Goatherder Woman) at Weaver Cemetery. Upon entering the cemetery we had no trouble finding her grave. The graves are easily visible inside the fencing; however, there are many graves beyond the area that are not so plainly marked.


 

 

 

American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project

 

Internet Presentation

 

Version 012509

 

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Copyright ©2003-2008 Neal Du Shane
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