Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-10
.Nebraskan Grew
First Sorghum
Raised in i. S
Frenchman. Who Came to U.
S. As Boy in 1884, Obtained
Two Seeds From China
Planted Crop at De Soto.
By ROBERTA STEEL HYDE.

1SiludSHy'
In a quiet honey street wher
thrifty gardens attested good car
and Towering vines climbed in lux
urious profusion over the picturesque
old houses; water dripped lazil,
from the irregular roofs-roofs tina
seemed to have started with SOM
heroic plan in view, and thei
stopped in surprise to find sauc,
little gable in the way.
| Everything was sodden gray an,
shrouded in the gloom of monoto
Gus drizzling rain-when young
girl, dressed in a red skirt and ;
quaint bodice and cap appeared ii
the doorway of one of the more pre-
tentious houses. She glanced quickly
down the street, her look of eager
ness changing to disappointment
Just as she was about to re-enter th'
house three ragged. bedraggled sol
diers came YEARLY, but sWilins
around the corner.
| All Is Confusion.
With bound the child was in tht
street. In an instant all was con.
fusion as families, neighbors and
friends rushed out in the rain tc
welcome home the defeated heroes
of Waterloo. with embraces anc
tears of thanksgiving.
Paul Cachelin took his baby boy
Constant, on his shoulder while his
wife clung to his arm and little
Marie, in her red skirt and quain,
bodice, danced gaily around them
for at last father had returned from
the war.
The fatted calf was killed and the
story of the feast given in the quiet
little street in Germagny in honor oi
the returned soldiers has been
handed down through the genera
tions and is told around the fireside
of the Cachelin family to this day.
Tragic Experiences.
Constant Cachelin from his baby
hood had been fed on stories Of
tragic experiences. AS he grew to
manhood the desire for strange lands
and adventure, had become a part OF
him. In 1854 year after Prince
Maximilan of Germany, passenger
on the yellowstone" had docked
at Ft. Calhoun, Neb., Cachelin
docked at New York City.
The Seminole Indians were giving
trouble. The United States govern
ment sent him down into Florida to
investigate conditions there. He
was lost in the Everglades and for
FIVE days was without food and
water. When in a precarious condi-
ton he was discovered by an Indian
who cared for him until he was
able to go on his way.
Fortune Smiles.
For a time he lived in Pensacola
and from there he went to what was
at that time known as Carondelet--
meaning empty pocket-today it is
known as St. Louis,' Mo. There he
prospered and after time visited
France, returning with his bride.
In Carondelet, with its luxuriant
vegetation, gorgeous wild flowers
and signing birds, they established
their home. Years passed. Fortune
favored them in every way. Money
lands and children were theirs. They
formed close friendships with people
of interest and charm. One of their
friends was sent by the United States
government as special envoy to
China. Later, when an occasional
letter came from him, the. family
gathered around to hear of a land SO
different from anything they had
known.
Envoy Returns.
After a few years the special en-
voy returned to Carondelet. One
day he gave his friend (let us whis-
per it softly) two Chinese sorghum
seeds; just how he came into pos
session of them no one has ex-
planned, and we will not investigate.
as sorghum seed was at that time on
the forbidden list.
In 1854 Constant Cachelin planted
the two seeds in Carondelet Est.
Louis, Mo-, and raised two stocks
of sorghum cane.
As far as we have been able to
discover this was the first sorghum
planted in the United States.
About this time the urge of ad-
venture and wanderlust again took
possession of Constant Cachelin
His boys were growing and the
middlewest seemed to offer oppor-
tunities that were fascinating, SO in
1855 he and his family boarded a
steamer at St. Louis for a trip UP
the Missouri. They docked at De-
soto, Neb., where many people OF
worldwide reputation found their
way in the early days.
Settle at Desoto.
They settled on land about three
miles from Desoto, built a COM
modious home, for the growing
family and turned their attentionn to
agriculture.
Sorghum usually suggests per-
fumed nights and negro melodies,
but TO Constant Cachelin it sug-
gested good soiling crops and sum-
mer pasturage for his stock. Sugar
was difficult to procure and syrup
would add to the needed supplies.
The seed would be good for laying
hens, and eggs were at premium
in Nebraska in 1855. With the seed
produced from the two seeds
brought to him from China by his
ambassador friend, Constant Cache
lin planted one acre.
When ripe he cut off the tops,
threshed the seed by putting the
heads in a bag and pounding with
heavy sticks, then standing in the
wind he poured the seed from one
pan to another; shaking the pans to
bring the trash to the surface and
remove the impurities.
Crushes Juice.
With a roller press that he had
made, he crushed the juice from the
n u "A Al.