Giles, Edwin Scofield, 1871-1950

Mining engineer Edwin Scofield Giles, father of Edith Giles Barcus, lived and worked around Goldfield, Nevada from his arrival in 1907 until his death at his home in Goldfield on March 9, 1950. Edwin Giles was born in Eastchester, New York on August 27, 1871. After an adventurous youth that included many trips to South America, Giles came for the second time to Colorado Springs, Colorado in January 1893, where he married Edith Corliss. Giles worked as a mining engineer in Cripple Creek, Colorado and occasionally as a newspaper correspondent as well, reporting on events in Cripple Creek. Mrs. Giles gave birth to twins, Edith Corliss Giles and Richard Scofield Giles on July 19, 1895 at Bear Creek Canyon, Rosamont Park, Colorado Springs. Richard Scofield Giles died in Colorado Springs on July 2, 1896.

After working in Colorado for several years, Edwin Giles followed the mining boom to Nevada. Leaving from Los Angeles, he and his family endured two weeks in a covered wagon over desert trails as they moved to Goldfield where he and his wife and daughter arrived in 1907. There he worked as a mining engineer for a number of different enterprises. By 1909, he was actively developing the Pioneer Mining Camp which grew up around the mine of the same name.

Edwin and Edith Giles were involved in the Goldfield community. Ed Giles was eventually elected to the position of Town Surveyor and had financial and managerial interests in virtually every mining property in the area. The elder Edith Corliss Giles died on September 7, 1946. Edwin "Dad" Giles remained a colorful character in and around Goldfield until his death in 1950. He was an inveterate poet and essayist, and had traveled to Argentina to help survey roads. He was involved in a variety of adventures, such as escaping from the great Goldfield fire in 1923 by sliding down a fire hose.