The background of Eleanor Dumont is unconfirmed. She arrived in Nevada City in California in 1854: at that point, she appeared to be twenty years old, had taken on the name ' Eleanor Dumont' and capitalized on the fascination of French women prevalent in the West. In reality, however, she was likely born as Simone Jules in 1829, possibly by French Creole parents in New Orleans.
Gambler
In Nevada City, California, she opened up a gambling parlor named "Vingt-et-un" on Broad Street. She was described an accomplished card dealer, and made a living from twenty-one and other casino games. Only well-kempt men were allowed in, and no women save herself. Reportedly, men admired her for her beauty and charm, but she kept them all at a distance: she flirted, but only to attract customers. Men came from all around to see rarity of 'the woman dealer', and considered it a privilege. The parlor found much success, and she went into business with Dave Tobin, an experienced gambler. They opened up Dumont's Place, which was very successful until the gold started to dry up in Nevada City, and in 1859, she sold the Dumont Gambling Palace and left Tobin and Nevada City. Moving from place to place, she was reported to work in Bodie, California; Deadwood, South Dakota; Fort Benton, Montana; Pioche, Nevada; Tombstone, Arizona; and San Francisco, California, among other places. She moved around from city to city, gambling and building up her money again. During her time in Bannack, her famous mustache began to grow, after which she was given the nickname of 'Madame Moustache'. She continued to attract crowds as a gambler, and had a long-standing reputation for dealing fair.
Brothel madam
Dumont added prostitution to her repertoire during the 1860s, when she first became the "madam" of a brothel. She kept brothels in many of the cities she visited as a gambler. To promote her business, she would parade her girls around the town in carriages, showing off their beauty in broad daylight, much to the dislike of non prostitute women. In 1870, she bought a ranch and some animals in Carson City. It was there that she fell in love with Jack McKnight, who conned her out of all of her money and left her in 1872.
Death
Her last stop was Bodie, California. One night while gambling, she misjudged a play and suddenly owed a lot of money. That night she wandered outside of town and was found dead on September 8, 1879, of an overdose of morphine, apparently a suicide.
