Nevada Genealogy Trails Storey County Hon. Jules E. Gignoux Biography

HON. JULES E. GIGNOUX is one of Nevada's most prominent citizens and mine-owners. He is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred on Staten Island, New York, on the 14th of July, 1848, and he is of French and English ancestry. His grandfather, Claude Gignoux, was born in France, and after coming to New York was for many years engaged as a silk importer, in which occupation he acquired wealth. His son, who also bore the name of Claude, was born in New York city and became identified with his father's business, spending his entire life in that city, and he attained to the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He married Miss Harriet Christmas, a native of Brooklyn. New York, and she was called to the home bevond when seventy-one years of age. They became the parents of ten children, of whom five are still living.

J. E. Gignoux. the only representative of the above family in Nevada, acquired his higher education in Germany, and he is now recognused as a chemist and metallurgist of eminent ability. For three years he was a mining engineer in Virginia City, and in 1879 came to this city as chemist for the Lyon Mill & Mining Company. Three years ago he purchased stock in the Nevada reduction works and cyanide plant, one of the most complete mining, milling and reduction works in the state of Nevada. The mill has twenty stamps, of one thousand pounds, and by constant remodeling has been made modern in every particular. By the cyanide process they consume one hundred tons a day, and the company mine their own rock, haul it to the mill and there it is utilized for many purposes, even to the refining of gold. They use a new cyanide process, invented by Mr. Gignoux's partner, Herman Davis, and this is a very valuable improvement. The company also manufacture all their own tools and the large mountain wagons, in fact making everything needed in the conduct of their extensive business. Mr. Gignoux is also the owner of a ranch on the East Walker river.

The marriage of Mr. Gignoux was celebrated in 1885, when Miss May Loftus became his wife. She is a native daughter of the Golden state. Four children, all born in Nevada, have graced this union, Harold, Raymond, Frank and Marion. Mrs. Gignoux is a valued member of the Episcopal church, and in his fraternal relations her huslrand affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a member of River Lodge No. 6, of Dayton, and is a past grand master workman of the state of Nevada; is also past master of Valley Lodge No. 9, A. F. & A. M. He has been a life-long Democrat, and as such was elected to the state legislature in 1881 and again in 1891, and two years later, in 1893, was made a member of the state senate. While serving his fellow citizens in those positions he was the champion of reform, having introduced all the bills save one for the reduction of the expenses of the state, and he is the author of the bill which reduced the number of county officers to about one-half of the original number, thus greatly diminishing the expenses of the county. In this way he assisted in placing the state on a sound basis and greatly reduced the burden of taxation. Mr. Gignoux is a gentleman of much natural and acquired ability, and has a very wide circle of acquaintances in the state of his adoption.

Source:
A History of the State of Nevada: Its Resources and People
By Thomas Wren, Lewis Publishing Company
Published by The Lewis publishing company, 1904