BIRTH 23 FEB 1830 • Pontenet, Bern, Switzerland
DEATH 4 JUN 1916 • Hayesville, Marion, Oregon, USA

Gustave was a professor by profession. He studied at a school in Delemont, Jura, Switzerland; the "Ecole de Normale Portrentruy". His daughter Ida also went there at a later date.
In Pontenet, Gustave's family was a part of the "bougueoise" for the village, which meant that his family GIROD, was original to settling in that area. This GIROD line came originally from the area of Doubs, Franche-Comte, France. Gustave first taught in Renan, and met Sophie there, as Dombresson where she lived was a small town; and Sophie's family would come to Renan which is much larger. Gustave married Sophie a year after he was on his 1st teaching assignment in Renan on Oct 21, 1854. Their first 3 children were born in Renan, with the 4th born in Le Locle. Gustave's 2nd teaching assignment was in Les Convers. A 2-story schoolhouse / home was built for them and completed in 1857 (photo in this memorial). (I was lucky to visit it when I went there). Their next 4 children were born here. Gustave's 3rd teaching assignment in 1865, took the family to Saint-Imier. Here they had the next 5 children. The last teaching assignment brought them back to the Les Convers Schoolhouse in 1871. Here they had the last 6 children. In 1882, by that time, 5 of their children had died and things in Switzerland were economically difficult. The family decided to immigrated to America. (Previously, a few of their sons had already left for America). They left from Le Havre, France on the "Normandie" to New York. Arriving with children Alfred, Leon, Henri-Auguste, Arthur, & Louis (who died on the ship and was buried at sea). The family settled 4 years in Ohio , & 4 years in Illinois - picking up farming. Later they moved west through Washington, before settling in Oregon in 1890. Several family events made the local newspapers like "the big powder explosion" (seen in this memorial) & "the runaway wagon". Gustave died at 86 on June 4, 1916 in Hayesville, Marion, Oregon, USA. He was buried at Claggett Cemetery in Keizer on June 7, 1916.