Deaths at the Gate -- Jackson Gate, Amador County

Today, we are going to delve into a couple of the deaths that took place at the area known as Jackson Gate. Many years ago, I had stumbled across an old newspaper clipping mentioning that in the early days,  several people had died from cholera after drinking in the creek near the Gate after something had been contaminating it. As it turns out, when I went back recently to research that, I couldn't find the clipping, so as of right now, I am still trying to find that specific reference. When I do find it, that will be cited for reference with more details. For now, that is part of the lore at The Gate. 

Well, this memory of finding that clipping is what led me to the interest in learning more about the history of that specific spot known to locals as "The Gate," or Jackson Gate, and if anyone else had died in that general area. 

After more research, I found a couple of documented deaths, and so I wanted to share them with my readers.

One of the stories that I dug up during my research into the history of the old hangman's tree on Main Street in Jackson was the murder at Squaw Gulch.

In 1851, two Frenchmen were butchered in Squaw Gulch which was "near Jackson Gate." As the history of Amador County states "One was stabbed with a long bowie-knife thirteen times, dying immediately. The other, though cut five or six times, lived for several days." 

According to Larry Cenotto's research records, "Monsieur Pontanier and an unknown French "companion" on  May 20, 1852, were attacked while they slept in their tent in Squaw Gulch near the Gate." The men had been stabbed to death. The deaths of these two men was what led up to the formation of the Jackson Vigilance Committee. The committee offered a $300 reward to anyone who helped apprehend or deliver the murderer(s).

Initially, another man Gregorio Soberano was arrested while at a bistro in downtown Jackson, but he was later exonerated. Later on, another man was brought on charges. His name was Cheverino. He had been examined and sent to the "log jail," to be held until he could stand trial, but that night a mob of people (let me make this clear it was NOT the Vigilance Committee) broke into the jail and dragged Cheverino out to the oak tree on Main Street.

The first of two hangings took place around 8:30 p.m. on the evening of June 10th, 1852. He would be the 3rd execution by way of the hanging tree in Jackson. 

According to records, the rope was put around his neck and he was pulled up while his hands were free. So, he began clenching onto the rope around his neck, struggling to survive. This allegedly went on for about ten minutes before they dropped the rope, and tied his hands behind his back and then raised the rope again. It was said that Cheverino had admitted guilt in the murder of Pontanier.

His accomplice, Cruz Flores had been found out by chance when another Mexican, Mariano, who had been arrested for horse theft in Sacramento, implicated Cruz Flores, as the other man who murdered a Frenchman near Jackson Gate, or "The Gate."

Flores, the 4th man to be one of the Hanging Tree's executions, was hanged the next day on June 11th, 1852.

Another tragedy that took place near "The Gate" was the death of William Holder. His story is a little bit more detailed, as I was able to find a lot more about him than the last two mentioned above.

William Holder was born in England in 1855, and had immigrated to the United States in his early adulthood. By 1880, he was living in the home of William Bryant and family in Pine Grove, working as a blacksmith. By July 3, 1881 he married Frances "Fanny" Hawkins Younglove, who had just been divorced by her 1st husband Dwight Younglove, who appeared to have been habitual womanizer, getting married only to divorce shortly after. 

Perhaps William was Fanny's "knight in shining armor," and even though she had a young son from the previous union, it did not deter William from marrying her. Sadly, on February 22, 1884, Fanny passed away from what appears to have been a short illness, and was buried at the Ione Cemetery. She was originally from Missouri, and grew up in Lancha Plana, currently where Lake Camanche rests. 

Interestingly, it appears that William loved his wife so much, as he fought over the custody of his stepson, Albert, against Albert's father, Dwight Younglove, upon Fanny's passing. Per Fanny's will, she named William and her brother, Melville as executors of her estate, and requested that her young son to remain with her mother, Mary Ann.

Only 8 months after Fanny's death, it appears that William or "Billy" as locals called him, fell in love again, this time to Margaret "Maggie" Guerra. Maggie's mother was from Mexico while her father Deonisio Guerra was from Chile, and worked in the mines, as did her brothers Frank and Albert. 

Maggie and William married on October 22, 1884.

Maggie ran a local laundry business out of her home at 156 Main Street in Jackson, where she would wash and iron clothes for locals to make money. When she purchased her home in 1878 from then owner, George Stasal, she paid $450.00, which would have been equal to $14.323.17 today as a "real price" as measured by inflating the amount by the Consumer Price Index or (CPI.) 

For the record, there is no evidence of Maggie being a madam or prostitute as some people may have insinuated on other websites. I feel that is not only disrespectful to the memory of Maggie and her family, but is also very ignorant to make assumptions without having documentation to back up said claims. The records show Maggie was just a normal lady, living in Jackson, working in the laundry service business, and I have found nothing to suggest she was a "lady of the night."

William would go on to have a child with Maggie, a son, William Jr., who was born on November 21*, 1885. 

(*What is neat about this story, is that their son was born on my son's birthday, and their marriage took place on my father's birthday, so that was interesting.) 

Their newfound happiness would end in tragedy though, as young Billy died at the age of 2 years old on June 8, 1888. The couple would go on to have two more children, daughters Della and Amelia, born in 1888 and 1892.  These two would grow up into their adulthood.

The Amador Ledger shows that by 1893, William was selling wagons that he was manufacturing and advertising in the newspaper. 

Going back to the story.....

The death of William Holder took place Tuesday evening, January 12, 1909. According to the Amador Dispatch,  Holder had been found that following morning, "lying face downward in the sand and the mud of the north fork of Jackson Creek, the lower limbs partially in the water."

His boss, V.J. Chichizola, whom Holder was working as a blacksmith for, discovered his body that morning around 8 a.m.  He was found just west of the Chichizola store, across the road where the creek is located.  Upon examination by Coroner Potter, it was ascertained that Holder had been seen at Casazza's saloon the evening prior. Witnesses stated that he came to the bar around 8 p.m. already very inebriated, and although he stayed for about an hour he didn't drink any more while there. He left the bar around 9 p.m. and stumbled out of there on his way home to his small cabin across the creek just north of Teresa's Place. 

I am not 100% certain, but I think it is possible that William's drinking habits may have put a strain on his marriage at some point before Maggie's death in 1896, because I couldn't find any records of their dwelling together in the same home in the 1890's, plus they are not buried with one another, nor are they even at the same cemetery. She's in the Catholic Cemetery in a large plot, while William in a very small spot at the Jackson City Cemetery nearby.

At the time of his death in 1909, William was living in this little cabin near his job, while his two young daughters were being raised by Maggie's family.

The weather that night was very stormy and the creek had risen significantly. It was stated that "instead of using one of the foot bridges one some distance above and another below the blacksmith shop, Holder attempted to cross at a point near the cabin ass was his custom when the water was low." The article goes on to mention that Holder was "carried off his balance by the current, he had fallen into the muddy water from which he was unable to rise owing to the stupor of his condition, and was drowned."

So basically, he tried to cross the creek and it knocked him off his feet, and being as drunk as he was, he didn't have the strength or stamina to pull himself up and he drowned. The sand in his hair and the pockets of his clothes were evidence enough that the water had risen up higher than normal in the night, and sadly, Holder didn't make it.

Just to quell any suspicions of foul play -- the Coroner determined based on evidence that it was an "Accidental Drowning." Holder wasn't murdered and no one robbed him, in case anyone wants to make those assumptions.  There would be no reason to have killed him. He didn't have any enemies, and he didn't have anything of value on him, except the new shoes on his feet, which were found on his person when they discovered his body. In fact, he had just purchased those shoes that day at the Chichizola Store.  

Holder was known around Jackson, and everyone seemed to like him. Only on one documented occasion was he involved in anything that made the newspapers, and it really wasn't his fault. It appears that on the Fourth of July, 1907, during the festivities an Indian (native American), who was overly inebriated, assaulted William in public and they duked it out, which landed the Indian in jail. William walked away from the altercation with his hands clean, (meaning he didn't go to jail).  

Although he was known for his intemperate habits towards the end, he was spoke of as "unassuming, courteous, always cheerful, never boistress.... and was liked for his better qualities, while pitied for the degenerate condition to which his appetite dragged him."

It appears that in his early years he had been a very hard working man, and had even owned two shops, one of which included the wagon making business, and was considered a "prosperous business man," so it is very sad to see how he ended up.  With all of that potential, he allowed his bad habits and addictions to get the best of him, which ultimately led him to losing his family, his businesses, his prosperity and eventually his life.

He was buried at the City Cemetery in Jackson in a small plot. Hopefully now he has the peace he struggled to find at the end of a bottle.

Photo: Courtesy of Steve Jones on Find-a-Grave

May William Holder rest in peace....

(Copyright 2023, J'aime Rubio, www.jaimerubiowriter.com)