Emile Gastonguay was born in Lewistown, Maine in 1886. He received his education at a Jesuit Seminary in Quebec and electrical training at General Electric Company in Schenectady, N.Y., obtaining an honorary degree as an electrical engineer.

In 1913, D.C. Jackling hired Gastonguay as chief electrician for the Alaska Gastineau mine which was under construction at Thane. Jackling was a representative of Haydon, Stone and Company of New York, a financial backer of the mine. He was later in charge of the Salmon Creek and Annex Creek power plants of the Alaska Gastineau Mining Company.

THE DAILY ALASKA EMPIRE (Juneau) reported the closing of the mine on June 3, 1921. Emile Gastonguay continued working as manager of the power company and caretaker for mining properties which were involved in a lawsuit. There were disputes over boundaries and finally the properties became part of the Alaska Juneau Gold Mining Company.

While in the Juneau area, Mr. Gastonguay was active in the Juneau Chamber of Commerce, Elk's Lodge and was a 33rd degree Mason. He had an interest in some Chichagof Island gold mining development, but this venture did not do well. In 1929 he married his second wife and their two daughters were born in Juneau. The family moved from Thane to California in 1936. Mrs. Gastonguay lives with one daughter, Louise Graf in Sacramento. The other daughter, Diane van Gastel of Los Gatos, California, donated the photographs (PCA 119) and manuscripts in December 1978. Mrs. van Gastel provided the biographical information on her father.