He was only a boy of 13, yet he showed an uncanny ability to see through situations as they arose. His first problem was a means of livelihood. Seeing the vast numbers of plantations along both sides of the Mississippi River from below New Orleans to well above Baton Rouge he reasoned that there would be a good market for needles, thread, ribbons, lace and other notions that the plantation ladies had a hard time buying.

 After canvassing several wholesale houses he finally found one willing to back him in his endeavor. Armed with his products in his back-pack, he took to the road, walking the many miles to the plantation houses, and peddling his wares, along with his friend named Tassin.

 The operation was a resounding success. It wasn't long before they could buy a mule and cart from the profits thereby enabling them to invest in a larger selection and travel faster and easier than on foot.

 The business was so good that he was able to purchase a general store, in 1840, at the age of sixteen. In 1845 he opened a clothing store in New Orleans.

 But his eyes was on the big prize, a sugar plantation. His chance came in 1850 when he was able to buy the Souvenir Plantation from Antoine Boudousquie at what was known as Bonnet Carré. He changed the name from Bonnet Carré to Reserve as his first move.

 He expanded his holdings rapidly. As his profits rose he plowed it back into more land. Eventually he purchased Star, Diamond, LaPlace, LaBranche, Belle Point, New Era, and Cornland Plantations. He bought a number of small plantations and grouped them into the name Elm Hall, over in Assumption Parish. In Lafourche Parish it was Greater Raceland Plantation, in Raceland.

 All of this caused another problem that had to be solved. Each plantation had its own small sugar mill. The same work went on at the same time in all of them. His idea was to concentrate this work in one large central mill and bring the harvested cane to the central mill by tramway (railroad). He laid down wooden tracks covered with a steel strap to reduce wear, as was the custom in the logging industry. Later, when the narrow gauge rails became available he then converted to narrow gauge rails throughout.

 As he had to traverse other plantations to reach his own the subject of rights-of-way became evident. This was solved by promising a barrel of sugar to each plantation owner whose land he crossed, to be paid at the end of the grinding season.

 True to his word, a few cars were loaded with the correct amount of sugar at the end of the grinding season and were delivered by train to the waiting recipients. This went on every year as long as the railroad used the land.

 One of those had lost her husband so he bought the plantation from her but allowed her to continue to live in the house until her death. Such was the nature of the man.

 He did not own a single slave. Yet he maintained his heavy work schedule without using them. To the amazement of the other planters he always turned a profit which was something they themselves had a hard time doing even with free slave labor.

 The tiny steam locomotives became popular after the advent of the narrow gauge rails and he got on the bandwagon by adding steam engines to his railroad. This was faster and easier than having to pull them with mules as was being done before. It also freed many men to work on other jobs on the plantation, not to mention the caring and feeding of the animals when work was done.

 Thus the mule-drawn trams faded into history and the tiny steam locomotives came into their own. They were called "dummies" by those who ran them. The story of how they came to be called "dummies" in the first place is interesting in itself.

 When the city of New Orleans began using steam locomotives to pull the street cars instead of mules it created a real problem. Horses that pulled the wagons and carriages in the city streets were frightened by the wheezing and puffing of the little locomotives, balked and ran when they approached, causing much injuries and damage to the wagons.

 Something had to be done and done quickly. Someone at the car shop suggested that an envelope covering the locomotive be constructed to resemble just another street car so that the horses would not be afraid of something they were accustomed to seeing every day. This covering was a "dummy" street car and an engine so equipped was called a "dummy".

 Later, when the street cars were electrified, the "dummies" were sold to the general public. Many of them went to the plantations and the name went with them. And even today, they are fondly called "dummies" even though there is no knowledge of how they got the name. Even new engines were called "dummies".

 But once they began work on the plantations they were worth "their weight in gold".

 The smaller and lighter locomotives were used for switching in the fields where the harvested cane was brought to be loaded for the trip to the mill. Lighter engines were used in switching around the mill and surrounds.

 The heavier engines were used to haul the cane cars to the mill as they could pull a larger number of cars at a time. The engines were [Image] numbered in sequence in the order of their acquisition. The letters "MRSB RR" were inscribed on their sides meaning 'Mississippi River Sugar Belt Railroad", the name decided upon for his railroad. Later, the Godchaux logo - the Circle G - was painted on the cars and engines.

 "The Circle G" was also the name of the small newspaper put out by company personnel for the benefit of the employees.

 Therein lies another Godchaux story. This one involves his son, Walter. One day while making one of his frequent visits to the "feed mill", his pride and joy, he told a young man to go get him a copy of the Circle G. Usually the young man would dutifully go over the tracks to the main office and get a copy for him.

 This day, however, the young man did not move. Noticing this he again made the request. The young man, all flustered, said, "Mr. Walter, I can't. I don't have the penny - I'm broke" After some questioning it turned out that single copies sold for 1 cent, and the young man had no money to pay for it.

 This time the young man was sent to get a free copy and to bring the message that from that moment forth no Circle G's would ever be sold again. The company would foot all the bills connected with the operation and no deduction from their wages to pay for subscriptions would be tolerated.

 Like father, like son, as the saying goes.

 Leon Godchaux was a man of great compassion and generosity. His refusal to own slaves was a case in point. He was known for his help in various civic endeavors.

 In the Sugar Belt, the spiritual life was directed almost totally by the Roman Catholic Church. The Godchauxs made large contributions to St. Peter's Church in Reserve. Two of the great stained glass windows were placed there as a memorial to the Jewish planter and philanthropist, Edward Godchaux. Ripley's "Believe It or Not" once stated that it was probably the only Catholic Church in the world with a Jew so honored. In 1922, Edward Godchaux, son of the old man, had the interior of St. Peter's completely renovated. One parishioner said that any time the priest had a problem, one of the Godchauxs was always there with a solution.

 He constructed dance halls, baseball diamonds, swimming pools, club houses, libraries and all sorts of free goodies for the recreation of the employees which made them feel like they belonged to one, big family.

 And in a sense it was a big family. As the children grew up there was a job waiting for them. This big family approach to corporate management went all the way to the White House.

 In 1899 none other than President William Howard Taft was a visitor to the refinery, along with his entourage of 117 senators, 24 governors and 3 diplomats. "Taft's Fleet" was anchored in the river at Reserve for the occasion.

 Many speeches were given from the gallery of the summer home to a vast number of spectators. It was a spectacular event to happen in such a small town.

 Leon Godchaux passed away in 1899 but his family carried on the generosity and compassion for the people. Their goodwill carried on in their dealings with their employees and the general public.

 Soon the production of raw sugar was discontinued and raw sugar was shipped from other companies around the world to be refined at the Reserve plant.

 Then the Great Western Co., owned by the Hunt brothers of Texas bought the refinery but in a few years they had to declare bankruptcy. The refinery closed it's doors, forever.

 Thus ends the saga of Leon Godchaux, the Sugar King.

 "Life's work well done"