Pauline Weaver
Encyclopedia
Pauline Weaver also called Paulino Weaver, was an American mountain man
, trapper, military scout, prospector, and explorer who was active in the early southwestern United States
. A number of geographic features in the US state of Arizona
are named after him.
, the son of a white father and a Cherokee
mother. As a young man he worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada. In 1830 he traveled to the Rocky Mountains with a group of nearly 50 other men on a trapping expedition. The trip took him to Taos, New Mexico
, which he adopted as a base for his trapping and trading. It was among the people of Taos that his given name Powell was changed to the more-familiar to Spanish speakers Paulino, which in turn was changed to Pauline by English speakers. In 1831 he traveled from Taos to California, going through Arizona for the first time.
In August 1832 Weaver was baptized into the Catholic faith, and the following month he married Maria Dolores Martin in Taos. They had a son and two daughters. He later married a Native American
woman in Arizona.
Weaver settled at a ranch near Banning, California
in 1845, and lived there for more than ten years.
Weaver usually maintained excellent relations with the indigenous peoples of the region, and consistently tried to smooth relations between them and the American settlers. Despite the usually good relationship, Weaver was seriously wounded in an Indian attack in the 1860s.
General Stephen Kearney
recruited Weaver to scout for the Mormon Battalion
in 1846. He served the military off-and-on for the next 20 years, as a scout and as intermediary between the Army and Indian tribes. During the Civil War, Weaver was the Chief of Scouts for the federal forces that engaged a Confederate unit on 15 April 1862 at the Battle of Picacho Pass
in Arizona.
In 1862 Native Americans showed Weaver where gold could be found on the east side of the Colorado River. The discovery led to a gold rush and the establishment of La Paz, Arizona
, now a ghost town. A year later Weaver later led the Peeples party on a prospecting expedition up the upper Hassayampa River
to what are now the Weaver Mountains, where they found placer gold at Rich Hill, near present-day Yarnell, Arizona
. In Weaver’s honor the mining district was named the Weaver District.
army post with full military honors in recognition for his military service and for his services in keeping peace with the Indians.
When the military closed the Camp Verde post, Weaver’s remains were moved to San Francisco, California
. In 1929, Arizona Boy Scouts and school children raised money to have his body returned to Arizona, and he was buried for the third and final time on the grounds of the Arizona territorial capital at Prescott, Arizona
.
Mountain man
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s where they were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains...
, trapper, military scout, prospector, and explorer who was active in the early southwestern United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. A number of geographic features in the US state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
are named after him.
Biography
Weaver was born Powell Weaver in White County, TennesseeWhite County, Tennessee
White County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 23,102. Its county seat is Sparta.-History:...
, the son of a white father and a Cherokee
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
mother. As a young man he worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Canada. In 1830 he traveled to the Rocky Mountains with a group of nearly 50 other men on a trapping expedition. The trip took him to Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
, which he adopted as a base for his trapping and trading. It was among the people of Taos that his given name Powell was changed to the more-familiar to Spanish speakers Paulino, which in turn was changed to Pauline by English speakers. In 1831 he traveled from Taos to California, going through Arizona for the first time.
In August 1832 Weaver was baptized into the Catholic faith, and the following month he married Maria Dolores Martin in Taos. They had a son and two daughters. He later married a Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
woman in Arizona.
Weaver settled at a ranch near Banning, California
Banning, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Banning had a population of 29,603. The population density was 1,281.6 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Banning was 19,164 White, 2,165 African American, 641 Native American, 1,549 Asian, 39 Pacific Islander, 4,604 from other...
in 1845, and lived there for more than ten years.
Weaver usually maintained excellent relations with the indigenous peoples of the region, and consistently tried to smooth relations between them and the American settlers. Despite the usually good relationship, Weaver was seriously wounded in an Indian attack in the 1860s.
General Stephen Kearney
Stephen Kearney
Stephen Peter Kearney, ONZM is a professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the Parramatta Eels in the NRL as well as the New Zealand national team...
recruited Weaver to scout for the Mormon Battalion
Mormon Battalion
The Mormon Battalion was the only religiously based unit in United States military history, and it served from July 1846 to July 1847 during the Mexican-American War. The battalion was a volunteer unit of between 534 and 559 Latter-day Saints men led by Mormon company officers, commanded by regular...
in 1846. He served the military off-and-on for the next 20 years, as a scout and as intermediary between the Army and Indian tribes. During the Civil War, Weaver was the Chief of Scouts for the federal forces that engaged a Confederate unit on 15 April 1862 at the Battle of Picacho Pass
Battle of Picacho Pass
The Battle of Picacho Pass or the Battle of Picacho Peak was an engagement of the American Civil War on April 15, 1862. The action occurred all around Picacho Peak, northwest of Tucson, Arizona...
in Arizona.
In 1862 Native Americans showed Weaver where gold could be found on the east side of the Colorado River. The discovery led to a gold rush and the establishment of La Paz, Arizona
La Paz, Arizona
La Paz was a short-lived, early gold mining town along the Colorado River in La Paz County on the western border of the U.S. state of Arizona. It was the location of the La Paz Incident in 1863, the westernmost confrontation of the American Civil War. The town was settled in 1862 in what was then...
, now a ghost town. A year later Weaver later led the Peeples party on a prospecting expedition up the upper Hassayampa River
Hassayampa River
The Hassayampa River is a mostly underground river, the headwaters of which are just south of Prescott, Arizona, and flows mostly south towards Wickenburg entering the Gila River near Hassayampa, Arizona...
to what are now the Weaver Mountains, where they found placer gold at Rich Hill, near present-day Yarnell, Arizona
Yarnell, Arizona
Yarnell is a census-designated place in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. The population was 645 at the 2000 census. Yarnell's economy is based on ranching, mining and services to travelers and retirees. Peeples Valley, three miles north, is closely linked to Yarnell.-History:Gold was discovered in...
. In Weaver’s honor the mining district was named the Weaver District.
Death and further travels
Weaver died in 1867, and was buried at the Camp VerdeCamp Verde, Arizona
Camp Verde is a town in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town is 10,610....
army post with full military honors in recognition for his military service and for his services in keeping peace with the Indians.
When the military closed the Camp Verde post, Weaver’s remains were moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. In 1929, Arizona Boy Scouts and school children raised money to have his body returned to Arizona, and he was buried for the third and final time on the grounds of the Arizona territorial capital at Prescott, Arizona
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
.
Arizona geographic features named after Pauline Weaver
- Weaver's NeedleWeaver's NeedleWeaver's Needle is a column of rock that forms a distinctive peak visible for many miles around. Located in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona, Weaver's Needle was created when a thick layer of tuff was heavily eroded, creating the spire as an erosional remnant with a summit...
in the Superstition MountainsSuperstition MountainsThe Superstition Mountains , popularly referred to as "The Superstitions", are a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area... - Weaver Creek in Yavapai CountyYavapai County, Arizona-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
- Weaver Mountain in Yavapai County
- Weaver Peak in Yavapai County
- Weaver Pass in La Paz County
- Weaver Wash in La Paz County
- Weaver, ArizonaWeaver, ArizonaWeaver, Arizona, originally Weaverville, is a former gold mining town, now a deserted ghost town, in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States...
, now a ghost town, in Yavapai County