From The Pierre Gerardy Family in America by Evelyn Potter Park, 1979, p. 23:
Leonie Bertha Faivre, daughter of Anna Gerardy and Lester Faivre, was born August 7, 1882, near Fact, Clay County, Kansas. As a small child, Leonie was bilingual, having learned French with her Grandfather Faivre who lived with them. Leonie served as interpreter for her grandfather when her parents were away. In her middle years Leonie returned to school to learn again the French language which had slipped away because of disuse. Before her marriage, Leonie became a certified teacher in the State of Kansas and taught in several school districts including Q School, Idana, and Garfield Thomas.
On July 22, 1903, she was married to Harry B. Giles. Harry was a graduate in animal husbandry from the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Manhattan, Kansas, (now called Kansas State University). His son, Lester, said, "For those days my father was an educated farmer."
After Leonie and Harry were married they lived in Riley County raising cattle on his father's farm. After the birth of their daughter, Marian, they moved to their own farm near Americus in Lyon County, where Margaret and Lester were born. Concurrently, while raising cattle and hogs for market, they completely remodeled the house. Mildred was born in Emporia, Kansas, where Harry was then engaged in the real estate business.
In 1914 Harry escorted Leonie's chronically ill mother to the Imperial Valley in California, and Leonie, her father, and her four children soon followed. For seven years (1914-1921) they raised sheep and food crops. In the summers, Harry sent Leonie and the children to the comfort of the seaside, away from the intense heat and dust of the desert valley that has since become one of the produce gardens of our nation. Marian recalled that during the famous flu epidemic of 1918, Leonie made gauze masks for every member of the family to wear when they went out in public.
In 1921, just before Haroldine's birth, the family moved to San Diego where Harry engaged in real estate and "over-the-mountains" produce trucking from the Imperial Valley. Leonie became a member of the school board of Grossmont Union High School and served as clerk for seven years. In that capacity she signed her own children's high school diplomas. She was president of the LaMesa Elementary School P.T.A. for two years and served as president of the Mt. Helix Councils of P.T.A. Being hard pressed to support his wife and remaining minor daughter, Harry moved them and their possessions into a store building in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. In the depression year of 1933 rent money did double duty, paying shelter for both home and business. Leonie and Harry began selling their lifetime collection of books and antiques-trading, buying and selling. Two years later the business moved to much larger quarters at 1644 University Ave., and eventually grew to include new and used furniture, large and small antiques, the book department growing to an advertised "10,000 Books," and the staff to ten employees. Leonie became a liberated businesswoman in the 1930's before the phrase was coined, as manager, seller, and in due time as buyer. The business was closed out in 1956 in Harry's eightieth year. But business was in their blood and they continued buying and selling from their home until their deaths.
Leonie and Harry Giles had five children:
l. Marian Adrienne Giles b. Feb. 15, 1905
2. Margaret Evelyn Giles b. Aug. 15, 1906
3. William Lester Giles b. Dec. 13, 1908
4. Mildred Yvonne Giles b. Feb. 1, 1911
5. Haroldine Faivre Giles b. Sept. 9, 1921
Obituary from The San Diego Union, Wednesday, March 28, 1962:
Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Bonham Brothers Mortuary for Mrs. Leonie Bertha Giles, 79, of 3526 Mississippi St., who died in a hospital Sunday. Cremation is planned. A San Diegan 41 years, Mrs. Giles is survived by her husband, Harold B; four daughters, including Mrs. Margaret G. Correll, Mrs. Mildred Hanna and Mrs. Haroldine Liggett; a son, William Lester, all of San Diego; a sister; seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Leonie Bertha Faivre, daughter of Anna Gerardy and Lester Faivre, was born August 7, 1882, near Fact, Clay County, Kansas. As a small child, Leonie was bilingual, having learned French with her Grandfather Faivre who lived with them. Leonie served as interpreter for her grandfather when her parents were away. In her middle years Leonie returned to school to learn again the French language which had slipped away because of disuse. Before her marriage, Leonie became a certified teacher in the State of Kansas and taught in several school districts including Q School, Idana, and Garfield Thomas.
On July 22, 1903, she was married to Harry B. Giles. Harry was a graduate in animal husbandry from the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Manhattan, Kansas, (now called Kansas State University). His son, Lester, said, "For those days my father was an educated farmer."
After Leonie and Harry were married they lived in Riley County raising cattle on his father's farm. After the birth of their daughter, Marian, they moved to their own farm near Americus in Lyon County, where Margaret and Lester were born. Concurrently, while raising cattle and hogs for market, they completely remodeled the house. Mildred was born in Emporia, Kansas, where Harry was then engaged in the real estate business.
In 1914 Harry escorted Leonie's chronically ill mother to the Imperial Valley in California, and Leonie, her father, and her four children soon followed. For seven years (1914-1921) they raised sheep and food crops. In the summers, Harry sent Leonie and the children to the comfort of the seaside, away from the intense heat and dust of the desert valley that has since become one of the produce gardens of our nation. Marian recalled that during the famous flu epidemic of 1918, Leonie made gauze masks for every member of the family to wear when they went out in public.
In 1921, just before Haroldine's birth, the family moved to San Diego where Harry engaged in real estate and "over-the-mountains" produce trucking from the Imperial Valley. Leonie became a member of the school board of Grossmont Union High School and served as clerk for seven years. In that capacity she signed her own children's high school diplomas. She was president of the LaMesa Elementary School P.T.A. for two years and served as president of the Mt. Helix Councils of P.T.A. Being hard pressed to support his wife and remaining minor daughter, Harry moved them and their possessions into a store building in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. In the depression year of 1933 rent money did double duty, paying shelter for both home and business. Leonie and Harry began selling their lifetime collection of books and antiques-trading, buying and selling. Two years later the business moved to much larger quarters at 1644 University Ave., and eventually grew to include new and used furniture, large and small antiques, the book department growing to an advertised "10,000 Books," and the staff to ten employees. Leonie became a liberated businesswoman in the 1930's before the phrase was coined, as manager, seller, and in due time as buyer. The business was closed out in 1956 in Harry's eightieth year. But business was in their blood and they continued buying and selling from their home until their deaths.
Leonie and Harry Giles had five children:
l. Marian Adrienne Giles b. Feb. 15, 1905
2. Margaret Evelyn Giles b. Aug. 15, 1906
3. William Lester Giles b. Dec. 13, 1908
4. Mildred Yvonne Giles b. Feb. 1, 1911
5. Haroldine Faivre Giles b. Sept. 9, 1921
Obituary from The San Diego Union, Wednesday, March 28, 1962:
Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Bonham Brothers Mortuary for Mrs. Leonie Bertha Giles, 79, of 3526 Mississippi St., who died in a hospital Sunday. Cremation is planned. A San Diegan 41 years, Mrs. Giles is survived by her husband, Harold B; four daughters, including Mrs. Margaret G. Correll, Mrs. Mildred Hanna and Mrs. Haroldine Liggett; a son, William Lester, all of San Diego; a sister; seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
From The Pierre Gerardy Family in America by Evelyn Potter Park, 1979, p. 23:
Leonie Bertha Faivre, daughter of Anna Gerardy and Lester Faivre, was born August 7, 1882, near Fact, Clay County, Kansas. As a small child, Leonie was bilingual, having learned French with her Grandfather Faivre who lived with them. Leonie served as interpreter for her grandfather when her parents were away. In her middle years Leonie returned to school to learn again the French language which had slipped away because of disuse. Before her marriage, Leonie became a certified teacher in the State of Kansas and taught in several school districts including Q School, Idana, and Garfield Thomas.
On July 22, 1903, she was married to Harry B. Giles. Harry was a graduate in animal husbandry from the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Manhattan, Kansas, (now called Kansas State University). His son, Lester, said, "For those days my father was an educated farmer."
After Leonie and Harry were married they lived in Riley County raising cattle on his father's farm. After the birth of their daughter, Marian, they moved to their own farm near Americus in Lyon County, where Margaret and Lester were born. Concurrently, while raising cattle and hogs for market, they completely remodeled the house. Mildred was born in Emporia, Kansas, where Harry was then engaged in the real estate business.
In 1914 Harry escorted Leonie's chronically ill mother to the Imperial Valley in California, and Leonie, her father, and her four children soon followed. For seven years (1914-1921) they raised sheep and food crops. In the summers, Harry sent Leonie and the children to the comfort of the seaside, away from the intense heat and dust of the desert valley that has since become one of the produce gardens of our nation. Marian recalled that during the famous flu epidemic of 1918, Leonie made gauze masks for every member of the family to wear when they went out in public.
In 1921, just before Haroldine's birth, the family moved to San Diego where Harry engaged in real estate and "over-the-mountains" produce trucking from the Imperial Valley. Leonie became a member of the school board of Grossmont Union High School and served as clerk for seven years. In that capacity she signed her own children's high school diplomas. She was president of the LaMesa Elementary School P.T.A. for two years and served as president of the Mt. Helix Councils of P.T.A. Being hard pressed to support his wife and remaining minor daughter, Harry moved them and their possessions into a store building in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. In the depression year of 1933 rent money did double duty, paying shelter for both home and business. Leonie and Harry began selling their lifetime collection of books and antiques-trading, buying and selling. Two years later the business moved to much larger quarters at 1644 University Ave., and eventually grew to include new and used furniture, large and small antiques, the book department growing to an advertised "10,000 Books," and the staff to ten employees. Leonie became a liberated businesswoman in the 1930's before the phrase was coined, as manager, seller, and in due time as buyer. The business was closed out in 1956 in Harry's eightieth year. But business was in their blood and they continued buying and selling from their home until their deaths.
Leonie and Harry Giles had five children:
l. Marian Adrienne Giles b. Feb. 15, 1905
2. Margaret Evelyn Giles b. Aug. 15, 1906
3. William Lester Giles b. Dec. 13, 1908
4. Mildred Yvonne Giles b. Feb. 1, 1911
5. Haroldine Faivre Giles b. Sept. 9, 1921
Obituary from The San Diego Union, Wednesday, March 28, 1962:
Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Bonham Brothers Mortuary for Mrs. Leonie Bertha Giles, 79, of 3526 Mississippi St., who died in a hospital Sunday. Cremation is planned. A San Diegan 41 years, Mrs. Giles is survived by her husband, Harold B; four daughters, including Mrs. Margaret G. Correll, Mrs. Mildred Hanna and Mrs. Haroldine Liggett; a son, William Lester, all of San Diego; a sister; seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Leonie Bertha Faivre, daughter of Anna Gerardy and Lester Faivre, was born August 7, 1882, near Fact, Clay County, Kansas. As a small child, Leonie was bilingual, having learned French with her Grandfather Faivre who lived with them. Leonie served as interpreter for her grandfather when her parents were away. In her middle years Leonie returned to school to learn again the French language which had slipped away because of disuse. Before her marriage, Leonie became a certified teacher in the State of Kansas and taught in several school districts including Q School, Idana, and Garfield Thomas.
On July 22, 1903, she was married to Harry B. Giles. Harry was a graduate in animal husbandry from the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Manhattan, Kansas, (now called Kansas State University). His son, Lester, said, "For those days my father was an educated farmer."
After Leonie and Harry were married they lived in Riley County raising cattle on his father's farm. After the birth of their daughter, Marian, they moved to their own farm near Americus in Lyon County, where Margaret and Lester were born. Concurrently, while raising cattle and hogs for market, they completely remodeled the house. Mildred was born in Emporia, Kansas, where Harry was then engaged in the real estate business.
In 1914 Harry escorted Leonie's chronically ill mother to the Imperial Valley in California, and Leonie, her father, and her four children soon followed. For seven years (1914-1921) they raised sheep and food crops. In the summers, Harry sent Leonie and the children to the comfort of the seaside, away from the intense heat and dust of the desert valley that has since become one of the produce gardens of our nation. Marian recalled that during the famous flu epidemic of 1918, Leonie made gauze masks for every member of the family to wear when they went out in public.
In 1921, just before Haroldine's birth, the family moved to San Diego where Harry engaged in real estate and "over-the-mountains" produce trucking from the Imperial Valley. Leonie became a member of the school board of Grossmont Union High School and served as clerk for seven years. In that capacity she signed her own children's high school diplomas. She was president of the LaMesa Elementary School P.T.A. for two years and served as president of the Mt. Helix Councils of P.T.A. Being hard pressed to support his wife and remaining minor daughter, Harry moved them and their possessions into a store building in the Hillcrest area of San Diego. In the depression year of 1933 rent money did double duty, paying shelter for both home and business. Leonie and Harry began selling their lifetime collection of books and antiques-trading, buying and selling. Two years later the business moved to much larger quarters at 1644 University Ave., and eventually grew to include new and used furniture, large and small antiques, the book department growing to an advertised "10,000 Books," and the staff to ten employees. Leonie became a liberated businesswoman in the 1930's before the phrase was coined, as manager, seller, and in due time as buyer. The business was closed out in 1956 in Harry's eightieth year. But business was in their blood and they continued buying and selling from their home until their deaths.
Leonie and Harry Giles had five children:
l. Marian Adrienne Giles b. Feb. 15, 1905
2. Margaret Evelyn Giles b. Aug. 15, 1906
3. William Lester Giles b. Dec. 13, 1908
4. Mildred Yvonne Giles b. Feb. 1, 1911
5. Haroldine Faivre Giles b. Sept. 9, 1921
Obituary from The San Diego Union, Wednesday, March 28, 1962:
Services will be at 1 p.m. today in Bonham Brothers Mortuary for Mrs. Leonie Bertha Giles, 79, of 3526 Mississippi St., who died in a hospital Sunday. Cremation is planned. A San Diegan 41 years, Mrs. Giles is survived by her husband, Harold B; four daughters, including Mrs. Margaret G. Correll, Mrs. Mildred Hanna and Mrs. Haroldine Liggett; a son, William Lester, all of San Diego; a sister; seven grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
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