Leigh Robinson Gignilliat  

8 Fleet, Mary Seddon "Minnie" Born: 28 Jan 1874 Liberty/Adair County Missouri Died: 1952 buried Culver Masonic Cmeetery, Culver, Marshall, Indiana;

married: 2 August 1898 Culver, Marshall County, Indiana (Book H-C pg. 22) Gignilliat, Leigh Robinson Born:: 4 Jul 1875 Savannah, Chatham, Georgia died 30 Oct 1952 Chicago, Cook, Illinois [depending on Source Hines / Maywood, Illinois has been given] son of William Robert Gignilliat & Harriet Walker Heyward

culver Masonic Cemetery Section 2 row 10
GIGNILLIAT (family marker)
(GIGNILLIAT), Leigh R., Jr., 1899-1972
(GIGNILLIAT), Mary F., 1873-1952
(GIGNILLIAT), Fred F., 1901-1974 (also Bonine Funeral temp marker: Fred F. Gignilliat, 1901-1974)
(GIGNILLIAT), Leigh R., 1875-1952
(GIGNILLIAT), Charlotte D., 1906-1973

1897 - Leigh Robinson Gignilliat became commandant/superintendent on a snowy night of 13 January, he arrived at the Marmont Depot.

A history of Savannah and South Georgia. Chicago, Lewis Publishing Company, 1913 p. 1016-1022

WILLIAM ROBERT GIGNILLIAT...The subject of this sketch was survived by six sons and one daughter, and the tenor of their lives is only one of many instances in point...

Leigh Robinson Gignilliat, born at Savannah, Georgia, July 4, 1875, more nearly resembles his father than any of the sons, and has the same faculty for making friends and winning his way along paths calling for talent of a rare order. He graduated with distinction successively from the Emerson Institute at Washington, D. C., and from the Virginia Military Academy. At the latter institute he was private secretary to the superintendent, captain of one of the companies, president of the literary society, editor of the college publication and valedictorian of his class.

His first service in active life was with the corps of United States engineers engaged in road work and bridge building in Yellowstone National park. Returning to the family home in Georgia, he spent a few months there before accepting the position of commandant of the Culver Military Academy, at Culver, Indiana, an institution then but newly founded. He spent considerable time in architectural study while in Washington, and on the house drainage system for the city of Savannah, and other practical work while in Georgia. This Varied experience, as well as the positions held by him at the military academy in Virginia, stood him in good stead at Culver in directing the laying off of the grounds, the erection of larger and finer buildings as the school developed, as well as in the higher work of discipline and organization. It was his good fortune at the outset of his career at Culver to be thrown in close contact and intimate companionship with Col. A. E. Fleet, a Virginia gentleman of the old school and of the highest type of southern manhood, as well as one of the most prominent educators of his day. Their combined efforts placed the Culver Military Academy second only to the United States Military Academy at "West Point. Mr. Gignilliat, upon Colonel Fleet's retirement, became superintendent of the institution, and has carried forward the work with great ardor and success, the annual enrollment numbering many hundreds of scholars and the equipment being now unsurpased. Not content with the regular work, almost herculean, of the Culver Military Academy, his energy and mental activity have found expression from time to time in writing for the leading magazines and periodicals, as well as in the establishment, in connection with his brother, Thomas Heyward Gignilliat, of the Culver Summer Naval school.

So much has been said and written in current publications of the Culver schools and of the active spirit that controls and directs them, that further elaboration in a sketch of this kind is unnecessary...

The wife of William Robert Gignilliat was Hattie W. Heyward,...

General Gignilliat was CMA Superintendent from 1910 - 1939 and was also a member of the board of directors.

He was promoted to Brigadier General, U.S. Army Reserve, effective November 4, 1936.

Contemporary news reports indicated place of death as either Maywood, IL or Hines, IL. Both are in Cook County.

Thursday, October 30, 1952 Rochester Sentinel:

1952 - Culver, Ind., Oct. 30. (INS) -- Word was received in Culver today of the died:of Brig. Gen. Leigh R. GIGNILLIAT, former Commander of the Indiana American Legion department and former Culver Military Academy superintendent, in a hospital in Maywood, Ill., last night. Gen Gignilliat, who was 77 years old, was born in Savannah, Ga., and held degrees from Emerson Institute, Trinity College and Kenyon College. He was Legion Commander in 1920-21.

Saturday, November 1, 1952 Rochester Sentinel:

Final rites for Brigadier General Leigh R. GIGNILLIAT, 77, former head of the Culver Military Academy, were held in Academy's Memorial Chapel at 2 p.m. today. Gen Gignilliat passed away Thursday in the Hines Veterans Hospital, Hines, Ill. Burial was made in the Culver Masonic cemetery.

Culver Alumnus 1953
'Gignilliat hall' To Eternize Memory of "The General"

back in the fall of 1897, three years before the turn of the century and just three years after hennery Harrison Culver had established the school bearing his name, a tall soldierly young man, Leigh Robinson Gignilliat, accepted an appointment to the culver staff, then headed by. col. A. f. Fleet

the youthful Virginia Military institute engineering graduate was 21 years of age and had just finished a survey assignment in Yellowstone park. At the time he joined culver his plans were to stay for a brief time only, it has been said. the record shows that he had an active role in the development of Culver, In fact, the General's life was culver and for more than 40 years he gave the school everything he had.

Brig. General Gignilliat passed away on October 30, 1952 at the age of 77. his leadership and achievements, first as commandant, later as Superintendent, and still later as president of the board of directors of the Culver Educational foundation, are widely remembered by alumni, educators and the public-at-large....

Ex-Superintendent Of Culver Academy Claimed bv Death

CULVER, Ind., Oct. 31—Brig. Gen. Leigh H. Gignilliat, 77, superintendent of Culver Military Academy from 1910 until his retirement in 1939, died yesterday in Hines General hospital, Hines, Ill,

A native of Savannah, Ga., the deceased during World War I was an instructor at the first Officers Candidate School at Fort Benjamin Harrison and later was assigned to the 84th division and

served on the American Expeditionary Force general staff. He was appointed a. consultant to the secretary of War in 1941 and was an American representative on the Inter-Allied Military Commission.

Survivors are three sons, Leigh R., Jr.. Chicago; Frederick Fleet, Fort Worth, and Henry Culver, of Delafield, Wis. The body is being brought to the academy for final rites and burial - Logansport Pharos-Tribune Oct 31 1952 Oct 31 1952

Death Claims Ex-Officer

Chicago Tribune Service CHICAGO, Oct. 30—Brig. Gen. Leigh R. Gignilliat, 77, who served as superintendent of Culver Military Academy, Culver, Ind., from 1910 until his retirement in 1939, died Thursday in Hines Hospital here.

Gen. Gignilliat was appointed; as consultant by the secretary of war in 1941 and was an American representative on the inter-allied military commission.

His wife, Mrs. Mary Gignilliat, died last March. She was the daughter of Col. Alexander Frederick Fleet, first superintendent of the Culver Academy - The Salt Lake Tribune Oct 31 1952 Salt Lake City, Utah

Gen. Leigh Gignilliat

DELAFIELD -(Special)- Gen Leigh Gignilliat died in Chicago Oct. 26. He had been an invalid for several years. His wife died six months ago. He was the father of Capt. Henry Gignilliat of the St John's staff, and was president, or John's staff, and was president, or academy, Culver, Ind., for 29 years.

Burial was in Culver on Saturday. Two other sons, in Chicago and Ft. Worth sirvive him, and six grandchildren.

He had an interesting life. His son in Delafield has been engaged for several years in writing the history of his fathers life - Waukesha Daily Freeman Nov 6 1952 Waukesha, Wisconsin


Gen. Gignilliai, Retired Culver Director, Dies

CULVER, Ind. (AP) — Brig. Gen. Leigh R. Gignilliat, who served 29 years as superintendent of Culver Military Academy, died today in Bines General Hospital at Hines, Ill. He was 77 years old. Gen. Gignilliat was Culver superintendent from 1910 until his retirement in 1939.

He was a native of Savannah, Ga.

During World War I he was an instructor at the first Officers Candidate School at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Ind., and later was assigned to the 84th Division and served on the American Expeditionary Force general staff.

In 1941, he was appointed as a consultant by the Secretary of War and was an American representative on the Inter-Allies Military Commission.

His wife died last march. Three sons survive. They are Leigh R. Jr., Chicago, Frederick of Fort Worth, Tex., and Henry of Delafield, Wis.

His body will be brought to the academy - Kokomo Tribune Oct 30 1952 Kokomo, Indiana

1880; Census Place: Darien, McIntosh, Georgia; Roll: 156; Family History Film: 1254156; Page: 520B; Enumeration District: 100;
Name: Leigh R. Gignilliat
Home in 1880: Darien, McIntosh, Georgia
Age: 5
Estimated born: year: abt 1875
Born:place: Georgia
Relation to head-of-household: Son
Father's name: W. Robert Gignilliat
Father's born:place: Georgia
Mother's born:place: Georgia
Neighbors: View others on page
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male

Year: 1900; Census Place: Union, Marshall, Indiana; Roll: T623_392; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 82.
Alexander F Fleet 56
Belle S Fleet 48
Mary S Gignilliat 26
John S Fleet 22
Henry W Fleet 20
William A Fleet 16
Charles P Fleet 12
Reginald S Fleet 4
Leigh R Gignilliat 1
Leigh R Gignilliat 26
Mary A Seddon 72

U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925

Name: Leigh Robinson Gignilliat
Born: Date: 4 Jul 1875
Born: Place: Savannah, Georgia
Gender: Male
Residence: Culver, Indiana
Passport Issue Date: 10 Aug 1909
Spouse Name: Mary Fleet Gignilliat
Passport Includes a Photo: N
Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)

1910; Census Place: Union, Marshall, Indiana; Roll: T624_370; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 114;

Leigh R Gignilliat 34

Minnie S Gignilliat 35
Lee R Gignilliat Jr 11
Fred Gignilliat 9
Bertha Byrd 25 servant
Anna Byrd 26 servant

1920;Census Place: Union, Marshall, Indiana; Roll: T625_456; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 182;
Leigh R Gignilliat 46
Mary S Gignilliat 42
Leigh Gignilliat 20
Fred F Gignilliat 18
Henry C Gignilliat 8

U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Name: Leigh Robinson Gignilliat
Born: Date: 4 Jul 1875
Born: Place: Savannah, Georgia
Residence: Culver, Indiana
Passport Issue Date: 1 Jul 1920
Father Name: Wm Robt Gignilliat
Father's Born: Location: Busdens Bluff, Georgia, USA
Father's Residence: Dead Nov 1885
Passport Includes a Photo: Y
Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)

Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Name: Mary Seddon Gignilliat
Born: Date: 28 Jan 1874
Born: Place: Liberty, Missouri
Gender: Female
Residence: Culver, Indiana
Passport Issue Date: 2 Jul 1920
Spouse Name: Leigh Robinson Gignilliat
Spouse Born: Place: Savannah, GA
Passport Includes a Photo: Y
Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490)

U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925
Name: Leigh R Gignilliat
Born: Date: 4 Jul 1875
Born: Place: Savannah, Georgia
Residence: Culver, Indiana
Passport Issue Date: 3 Aug 1923
Father Name: Wm Robert
Father's Born: Location: Bansdina Bluff, GA
Father's Residence: Deceased
Passport Includes a Photo: Y
Source: Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925 (M1490

Year: 1925; Microfilm Serial: T715; Microfilm Roll: T715_3731; Line: 5; Page Number: 26.
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Leigh Gignilliat
Arrival Date: 3 Oct 1925
Born: Year: 1875
Born: Location: Georgia
Born: Location Other: Savannah
Age: 50
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Cherbourg, France
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Pittsburgh

Year: 1928; Microfilm Serial: T715; Microfilm Roll: T715_4362; Line: 25; Page Number: 21.
New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Leigh R Gignilliat
Arrival Date: 12 Oct 1928
Born: Year: 1875
Born: Location: Georgia
Born: Location Other: Savannah
Age: 53
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Cherbourg, France
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Ship Name: Washington

Name: Leigh Robinson Gignilliat
Born: - Death: 1875-1952
Source Citation:
•Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 2: August, 1949-August, 1952. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1953. (BioIn 2)
•Biography Index. A cumulative index to biographical material in books and magazines. Volume 3: September, 1952-August, 1955. New York: H.W. Wilson Co., 1956. (BioIn 3)

Name: Leigh Robinson Gignilliat
Born: - Death: 1875-
Source Citation:
•Indiana Authors and Their Books, 1816-1916. Biographical sketches of authors who published during the first century of Indiana statehood with lists of their books. Compiled by R.E. Banta. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1949. (IndAu 1949)
•Who Was Who in America. Volume 5, 1969-1973. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1973. (Who Am 5)

Name: Leigh R Gignilliat
Born: - Death: d1952

Source Citation:
•Obituaries on File. Two volumes. Compiled by Felice Levy. New York: Facts on File, 1979. (ObitOF)

9 Leigh Robinson GIGNILLIAT b: 1875 src: Our Family Circle, Compiled by Annie Elizabeth Miller, Macon, GA, 1931, rev. ed., Lawton & Allied Families Association, Hilton Head Island, SC, 1987.
.................. +Mary Seddon FLEET
................ 10 Leigh Robinson GIGNILLIAT, Jr.
................ 10 Frederick Fleet GIGNILLIAT
................ 10 Henry Culver GIGNILLIAT
http:/www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gascreve/slineage. htm

Box 1
Family Information
- genealogical information re: Gignilliat family
General Leigh R. Gignilliat
- poem - "General L. R. Gignilliat" by Edgar A. Guest
- article re: Gen. Gignilliat from Culver Alumnus, Culver Military Academy, Culver, Indiana
Georgia Southern University
Statesboro, GA