John F. Schmidt wrote a book called “A Historical Profile of Sioux City” in 1969. The following is copied from page 12.

Gustavus Pecaut was one of the most prominent early Frenchman to settle here. He was born in Switzerland, on the French side, on July 19 1826. He came to America with his sister, when he was 14 years of age. He was a fur trader for many years, having been at Fort Benton four years. He was a mail carrier for the fur company, between their forts. Mail carriers were not treated kindly by the Indians. He carried three shots in his hip, and was hit in the nose with a wad gun, and shot through the leg with an arrow. He came to Sioux City in 1852 or 53. He had a claim on the Big Sioux, just above Paquette’s. He spent part of one winter with Leonzi’s, helping the surveyors. He staked out a claim in Nebraska, and with Thomas L Griffey laid out the town of Covington where he lived for several years. He married Christine Held, July 10, 1859. She was a sister of the German Held brothers, early settlers in the area, and later lived up the Floyd in Plymouth County. Pecaut died in Sioux City, December 29, 1901. He was a prosperous and much loved citizen.805