GERMAN IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR Immigrated in 1856.

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Dakota County Hearld, Dakota City, Nebraska
Thursday, September 27, 1923.

Sioux City Journal, 21:

After lingering illness, Mrs. Christine P ecaut, 87 years old, a pioneer Sioux city resident, died early Thursday evening at the home o f her son, George Pecaut, 1511 Silver avenue.

Corning to Sioux City in 1857 from her birthplace in Germany, Mrs. Pecaut had been a resident of the city ever since. Her maiden name was Miss Christine Held. She married Mr. Pecaut in Sioux City when a young woman. He preceded her in
death 30 years ago.

A member of the Mayflower Congrergational church, Mrs. Pecaunt was active for many years in church work.

She is survived by eight sons, one daughter, 25 grand children and 11 great grand-children. The sons are George, Edward, Charles, Henry, Gustave, Philip and John Pecaut. The daughter is Mrs. E. K. Keith.

On Ancestry from bankster1991

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Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa. September 22, 1923

Funeral services for Mrs. Christine Pecaut, who died Thursday, will be held at 1:30 p. m. Monday from the home of her sone, George Pecaut, 1511 Silver avenue. Mrs. Pecaut was a pioneer resident of Sioux City, having come here from Germany. She is survived by eight sons and one daughter all of Sioux City. Rev. Joseph Steele, jr., pastor of Mayflower Congrational church, will officiate. the six oldest sons will act as pallbearers. Internment will be in Floyd cemetery.

On Ancestry from bankster1991.

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SWISS IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR Immigrated in 1845.

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Gustave Pecaut & Christina Held 1925 article.
Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa, Sunday November 29, 1925.

By Gertrude Henderson.

PUSSY-WANTS-A-CORNER was a game played on a large scale in this territory in the middle 50s.

Word was spread in the east that land was to be had in the new states for the taking. Young men in the east were urged to go west, and west they came, trooping over the prairies and plains, each intent on the great game of getting possession of the choicest corner and holding it against all comers, and if for a moment one turned his back the next one following would slip into the position and steal it away.

These young men, university men most of them, played the game, enduring any punishment for the chance of winning, but accepting defeat with a shrug.

You remember the rivalry between the group of Sioux City promoters and those of Sergeant Bluffs, each trying to push the other into oblivion. In April, 1856, the county seat was definitely located at Sioux City. Immediately interest in Sergeant Bluffs began to wane. Some of the most ardent promoters began casting eyes across the Missouri river. Sioux City had the land office, now they had the county seat; the Sergeant Bluffs group accepted the verdict that Sioux City would be the future city of Woodbury county. But since they could not be Cincinnati, why not be Covington?

A Frontier Encounter.

One day In June, 1856, a group of men representing the old Sioux City company appeared in the timber on the Nebraska side opposite Sioux City. They must have presented a peculiar picture, their eastern cut clothes, varnished boots and high silk hats contrasting oddly with their surroundings and occupation.

Their labor was interrupted by the appearance on the scene of a Frenchman, dressed in the garb of an Indian trader. His eyes were points of blue fire and in his hand he held a gun in no unbusinesslike manner.

'What are you doing here?" he demanded.

The spokesman of the party explained that they were locating a town site. The French turned and pointed to a log cabin through the trees.

"Do you see that?"

"Oh, yes, we saw that. There are lots of log cabins scattered through the country. They are built for the convenience of you traders. No one lives in them."

"I live In that one," said the Frenchmen with an emphasis, ''and I have a squatter's claim to this land and if you don't get off I will shoot that plug hat of yours so full of holes that you can use it for a sieve."

It is recorded that the men left. If his land was to be platted he would do it himself.

This was Gustave Pecaut.

Ran Away from ills Swiss Home.

Born i n 1836. I n Switzerland, he with his sister, Mary. becoming dissatisfied with the presence of a stepmother in the home, ran away and made their way to America. Here they found homes and care in return for their work. Gustave was employed for a time driving a mule on the towpath along the Erie canal. Then he worked for a farmer near Philadelphia. Drifting into the south he was employed for a time cutting wood in a cypress timber, until at the age of 22 he found himself in St. Louis. In 1848 he entered the employ of the American Fur company and was sent by them to the upper country on the steamer Antelope. His life among the Indians was full of adventure. In 1852 he came to Sioux
City in company with other French traders and lived for a time with Jo LeonaIs at the mouth of Perry creek. Just when he crossed the Missouri river and built his claim cabin there has been variously stated, but this is certain that when other would be claimants arrived he was there and sturdily maintained his rights. It is accepted that his cabin was the first to be built in Dakota county.

Promoters of Covington.

Thomas L. GrIffey, who was ready now to abandon his Interests in Sergeant Bluffs, formed a partnership with Pecaut to promote the town of Covington. Here, at least, he scored on the Sioux City crowd; they had attempted to take the land from Pecaut, while he got Pecaut to take him into partnership. Johnnie Feenan, the young Irish lad from Dubuque, who had been operating the ferry, was also made one of the company. Pecaut and Griffey erected a hotel In the town of Covington. Mr. Pecaut also took a pre-emption claim south from Covington. He was a resident of Dakota county for 20 years when he came to Sioux City.

Although living across the river, he had extensive real estate In Sioux City and also in Union county, Dakota Territory. In 1857 he bought three lots in Third between Jones and Jennings streets for $150. which he sold In 1891 for $11,000.

He was married to Christina Held, a daughter of a pioneer family of Nebraska, in 1857.

Griffin and the Burro.

Pecaut was a well known character of early days and there are several stories which the old timers used to enjoy telling. For Instance, there Is that one about Griffin and the burro. Some place Pecaut had acquired a burro which he used to ride about. One Griffin who was located for a time at Omadi was particularly obnoxious to Pecaut for some trouble they had had and also because Griffin was notoriously timid, which gave him a very low rating in the eyes of the Frenchman, who had faced sudden death so many times that It almost bored him.

One day in spring Griffin was crossing the ice to Sioux City. He was so afraid that he had two boards and he would lay one down and walk its length carrying the second board. This he would put down at the end of the first one, and then lift up the first one and carry it the length of the second. Thus he was making a slow progress across the ice. Griffin was wearing a high silk hat. High silk hats seem to have been poison to Pecaut. He could not pass an opportunity to humble a wearer of one of them.

He was filled with disgust at the timidity of Griffin, working his way across to Sioux City, and mounting his burro he proceeded to ride along one of the boards and off the end of it on to the ice and continue riding on to Sioux City.

Mr. Pecaut was a resident of Sioux City for many years before his death which occurred at his home in Silver street, December 29, 1900.

His oldest son, E. W., is living at 1602 Ross street. Besides other sons living in Sioux City, Mrs. Christina Keith, a daughter, is living at 612 Cecelia avenue.

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Gustave Pecaut 1942 article.
Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa, Wednesday September 2, 1942.

Pecauts Were Real Pioneers

ALBERT B. PECAUT of Los Angeles is renewing old acquaintanceship in Our Town and 'Thoroughly enjoying the experience. He is a guest of his sister, Mrs. E. B. Keith, at 1515 Silver street.

Gustave Pecaut, his father, was one of the first white men to touch the soil of what is now Sioux City. He belonged to the group referred, to in the following paragraph from A. Warner & Co.'s History of Woodbury County, published in 1890:

"In 1839 about100 men, trappers and explorers, left St. Louis on the steamer Antelope for the regions of the upper Missouri, where they were engaged with the American Fur company. They proceeded with the steamer as far as Little Cheyenne island, and then they were obliged to leave the boat on account of shallow water. These hardy adventurers made themselves a mackinaw, and by the use of drag ropes proceeded on their way to the headwaters, where they engaged in hunting, trapping and trafficking with the Indians.

Some remained there; others found their way back to civilization, and a portion of the party located in and near Sioux City."

Joseph Leonais, Albert Peltier, Paul Pacquette, John LaPlant, George L. Tackett are listed, along with Gustave Pecaut, as earliest day Sioux Cityans. As a matter of fact, it was 1848 when Mr. Pecaut went to the headwaters of the Missouri and 1852 when he settled on the present site of Sioux City.

Gustave Pecaut married Christina Held, sister of Philip Held and Erhardt Held, later large land owners near Hinton. The Pecauts had eight sons and one daughter.

Ed was the oldest son; for years before his death he was deputy sheriff. Charles, the second son, lives at 1615 Silver street. For years Henry was assistant fire chief; he lives at 1613 Silver street and is in feeble health. Gus at one time was city marshal; he died suddenly some years ago, at Riverside park. Phil was a barber; he died a few years ago. John P. con-tinues to be a Sioux Cityan; he lives at 1703 Myrtle street. Teeny is Mrs. Keith.

Albert was the seventh son; he was in the barber business at Fifth and Pearl streets and sold out to his brother Phil when he moved to California 18 years ago. (Albert married - Mary Messick, and she died i n California nine years.ago. They had one son, Maurice, and he is in the barber business in Los Angeles.) George, the youngest member of the Gustave Pecaut family, is a painter and lives at 914 W. Sixth street. Gustave Pecaut died December 29, 1900. His wife died 10 years later.

Albert Pecaut was born July 24, 1877, in Sioux City. He was a member of the old I. X. L. baseball team and well remembers Sioux City's first professional baseball club in 1888 and games it played at Evans park. He recalls how Anthony Devine stood guard with his blackthorn cane and revolver with blank cartridges and told youngsters he caught trying to get in without tickets: "Yez shnaked in , ye spalpeens, and now yez can shnake out."

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Gustave Pecaut 1954 article.
Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa, Sunday July 25, 1954.

DEFENDED LAND WITH A GUN

His eyes ablaze of fire, a Frenchman stepped out of the timber across the Missouri river, from Sioux City one June day in 1856, and pointed a revolver in business like fashion at a group of Sioux City men working before him.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

One of the Sioux City men explained that they were locating a townsite. The Frenchman turned and pointed to a log cabin through the trees.

"Do you see that?" he asked.

"Oh yes, we saw that," one of the men answered. "There are lots of log cabins scattered through the country. They are built for the convenience of you traders. No one lives in the.”

“I live in that one,” said the Frenchman, 'and I have a squatter's claim to this land. If you don't get off. I will shoot that plug hat of yours so full of holes that you can use it for a sieve."

The men wasted little time in leaving. The determined French trader was Gustave Pecaut, who had decided that if his land was to be platted he would do it himself.

Pecaut later that year, with two associates platted the town that eventually was to become Covington, the forerunner of South Sioux City.

From the time that Sioux City was platted in 1854, active rivalry existed between Sioux City promoters and those of the town of Sergeant Bluff. However, in 1855, Sioux City obtained a postoffice and a land office, and achieved the prime victory in 1858, by obtaining the county seat.

Interest in Sergeant Bluff began to wane, and some of its promoters, as well as Sioux City promoters began to cast their eyes across the Missouri river. The men who faced Gustave Pecaut on that June day in 1858, represented the old Sioux City company, original promoters of Sioux City.

One of the original promoters of Sergeant Bluff, however, scored on the Sioux City crowd. He was Thomas L. Griffey, organizing sheriff of Woodbury county, who was ready to abandon his interests in Sergeant Bluff.

Instead of battling with Pecaut, the astute Griffey formed a partnership with him. Johnnie Feeman, a young Irish lad from Dubuque who had been operating a ferry across the Missouri, also was made one of the company. Later in 1856, they platted the town that was incorporated two years later as Covington.

Pecaut was born in Switzerland February 19. 1826, of French parentage. His mother died when he was 4 years of age. When a youth, he and his sister Mary became dissatisfied with the presence of a stepmother in the home, so they ran away, making their way to America.

Here they found homes and care in return for their work. Gustave was employed for a time driving a mule on the towpath along the Erie canal, after which he worked for a farmer near Philadelphia. Drifting south, he was employed, cutting wood in cypress timber, and at the age of 22 went to St. Louis.

That year—in 1848—he entered the employ of the American Fur Co., and traded on the upper Missouri with the Indians. In 1852, he returned down the river, locating on land later to become Sioux City.

Pecaut lived for a while with Joe Leonais at the mouth of Perry creek. In 1853, Pecaut crossed the river and established a sawmill in the dense timber on the south bank of the Missouri. The timber, later called Covington woods, covered the site of what is now South Sioux City, and was described as the largest and most dense timber in this territory. Much of the lumber used in early construction on both sides of the Missouri river was cut from this grove.

The exact date that Pecaut built his claim cabin is not known, but it is accepted that his cabin was the first to be built in Dakota county, and when other would-be claimants arrived he already was there. It probably was built in 1853, when the sawmill was established.

After laying out a townsite and going into the real estate business, Pecaut and Griffey erected a hotel in Covington. Pecaut also took a preemption claim south of Covington. Although living across the river, he had extensive real estate holdings in Sioux City, and also in Union county, Dakota territory. In 1857, he bought three lots on Third street between Jones and Jennings streets in downtown Sioux City for $150, which he sold in 1891 for $11,000.

Pecaut married Christin Held, a daughter of Erhardt and Charlotte Held, pioneer Nebraska couple, February 10, 1859. In 1874, Pecaut returned to Sioux City, contlnulng to deal in real estate until 1889, when he retired from active business life. He died December 29, 1900.

Mr. and Mrs. Pecaut had 142 descendants. Three of their sons and a daughter still are living— John C. Pecaut, George Pecaut and Mrs. Teeny Keith, all of Sioux City, and Albert of California.
Another son, Charles F. Pecaut, died June 8,1954, at the age of 91. At the time of his death, he was tint of the oldest "Brothers of the Brush” in Sioux City's centennial celebration.

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Gustave Pecaut 1989 article.
Sioux City Journal, Sioux City, Iowa, Sunday July 9, 1989.

Although he unintentionally arrived in Sioux City in 1852, Gustave Pecaut, the third white man to settle in the area, liked it so much that he made Siouxland his home. Just two men, Theophile Bruguier and Joseph Leonais, had established themselves in Sioux City before Pecaut's arrival.

"Basically, he got here by accident," said Dick Pecaut, his greatgrandson, who resides in Sioux City, where his ancestor arrived about 137 years ago.

Born in the French-speaking part of Switzerland on July 26, 1826, Gustave Pecaut ran away from home when he was only 14, along with his sister, Mary, who was only 16.

After the death of his mother, his father re-married a woman whom the children disliked, so the two siblings escaped to America by ship, with New York as their destination.

Once the children arrived in the United States, they received homes in exchange for their work. His sister eventually settled in the New York area permanently, but for Gustave, a life of adventure was just beginning.

For a time, Pecaut drove a mule for an Erie Canal boat, and then worked for a Philadelphia farmer before drifting south, where he spent three years cutting wood in a cypress swamp for a salary of $6 per month.

Eventually, he ended up in St. Louis, the source of all exploring, trading and trapping expeditions up the Missouri River. In 1848, Pecaut began working for the American Fur Co., trading furs with Indians on the upper Missouri River. He was naturalized in Dakota City, then in the Nebraska Territory.

After spending four years with traders at Fort Benton, Mont., Pecaut became a mail carrier for the fur company and carried correspondence between forts, which, due to hostile Indian bands, was an exceptionally dangerous occupation during that time.

During the time he was a dispatch rider, Pecaut was shot through the leg with an arrow, hit on the nose with a gunwad and shot three times in the hips.

Although he carried permanent scars of his service, Pecaut gained a number of important friendships during his service as a dispatch rider. He became well acquainted with many of the Indians, most of whom knew and respected him.

While returning down the Missouri with the fur traders in 1852, his group's flat boat landed on a sandbar near what would later be known as Sioux City. Pecaut decided to stay, while the other men went on to St. Louis with tie company's furs. He got along very well with Bruguier and Leonais, who both spoke French, just as he did.

For about a year, Pecaut lived with Leonais at the mouth of Perry Creek and then moved across the Missouri, staking out a claim to homestead 173 acres of land adjoining what is now South Sioux City.

According to an old story cited in the Sioux City Journal's centennial edition (1964), Pecaut was so determined to defend his new land that he would have used a gun to protect his homestead if necessary.

Pecaut, the story goes, stepped out of the timber one June day in 1856 and pointed a revolver at a group of Sioux City men working before him.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

One of the men explained that they were locating a town site. Pecaut turned and pointed to a log cabin through the trees.

"Do you see that?" he asked.

"Oh yes, we saw that," one of the men answered. "There are lots of log cabins scattered through the country. They are built for the convenience of you traders. No one lives in them."

"I live in that one," said Pecaut, "and I have a squatter's claim to this land. If you don't get off, I will shoot that plug hat of yours so full of holes that you can use it for a sieve."

The men wasted little time in leaving, according to the story.

Pecaut established a saw-mill in the dense timberland on the south bank of the Missouri. Much of the lumber used in early construction projects both in Sioux City and South Sioux City came from Pecaut's forest.

In addition, Pecaut built a cabin, which was the first one in Dakota County and established a town site on the area. Pecaut, along with two associates, planned a town called Covington, which was the forerunner of South Sioux City. He built a hotel there and sold lots to the town.

In 1857, Pecaut married Christina Held in Plymouth County's first wedding. He and his wife settled in Covington and remained there for more than 20 years. The couple had nine children.

"Later, the town (Covington) kind of got away from him." said his great-grandson, Dick Pecaut. According to his great-grandson, Gustave Pecaut "abandoned ship" and moved back to Sioux City in 1874.

However, even while he was residing on the opposite side of the river (on what has become South Sioux City), Pecaut owned property in Sioux City, including downtown real estate as well as a considerable amount of stock.

On one occasion in the 1870s, Dick said, his great-grandfather put $12,000 into the Sioux City and Columbus Railroad, although the company later folded.

Pecaut made three expeditions to the Black Hills in the mid-1870s in search of gold, despite the imminent dangers that were involved.

He also continued to deal in real estate until 1889, when he retired from active business life. He died at his Sioux City residence on Dec. 28, 1900, when he was 74 years old.

The memory of one of Sioux City's earliest citizens, however, lives on.

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