The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
"0LD JOHNNY APPLESEED."
PROBIBLY THE MOST EXTRA ORDINARY
or An MISSIONARIES.
Planting Seeds In the Western wilderness
which Have Borne Fruit since Over Per-
hnps - Hundred thousand Square Miles.

hnps ~ Hundred thousand square Miles.
Ntu, me Esefrg Pot
ASHLAND, Ohio, Jan. 15.-Thc immense an
pie crop Of this part Of the State Of Ohio during
the last scason serves TO recall the life OF its
pioneer nuraerymnn whose memory IN yet
green in the minds Of many OF the oldest set
tiers. AS hero OF endurance that was vOuu-
tarily assumed. and OF toll the benefits OF which
could only hc rcaped 10y pOsterity. the nane Of
Jonathan Chapman. better known ns Johnny
Applesced. deserves pcrpetuity beyond that "
n generation Of lesser lights passed in tho glare
and romance OF the tomahawk and seal nng-
knife period Fcw men go unpretending have
been so extensively useful in their day and gen
Grafton. Tho evil that he did, IT. any, died with
him the good lives after him bearing annual
fruit over IN area Of 100 900 square miles sX.
tending from the Ohio River to the great north
ern lakcs; Many ~ the best orchards OF this
aud adjoining counties are from trees which
Ind their first growth in his forest nurseries.
The writer looks from his window upon long
rows OF applc trocs transpanted from JOhnnya
nursery. near the old Indian Green Town.
Jonathan Chapman WIS born In Boston about
the yg9r l775 How hedrftcd from that point to
inc wilds " western Pcnnsylyan where he was
ir~t known To have INDUCED his peculiar mono
mqnia for the planting of apple trees in the
wilderness, If not known. Tho rapid settlement
OF that part of the country. however soon drove
him further westward, In 1901 he entered the
Territory of Ohio with a horse load Of npuio
seeds gathered from the cider presses ~ Wost-
crn Pcnnsylvania. coming first to Licking
County. and planting his seeds IN many fertile
spots on and about the banks Of Licking Creek.
For the next i've years no disappeared. passing
the period. d1ul tless. in tho establishment ot
'th'l NURSERIES, III a ullltItuA tlNuIN'I. IN lNit
county. drifting slowly down the Ohio River in
two canoes. lashcd together. and onded with
apple seeds These he was transporting west
ward. for tho purpose Of creating orchards
upon the iurthc-t verge ~ white settlement.
Entering the Muskingum River Mt Marietta. he
passed 10y various TRIBUTARIES TO the head of
navigation in this county. still n region Of
fOrost-crowned hills and green valleys and
possessing romantic beauty which railroads
and busting towns and cities have not served
u obliteratei the will surroundings and primal
NaHE laflsa
hccn teniuld more picturesque to the eyes Of
Apploeeed johnny in those early days.
IN TINS instance, as in others aNcrwnrd.
Johnny selected the most fertile spots in tho
rich loamy grounds on the banks Of tho creeks
for his purpose; planting often rs high MS six
teen bushels ~ seed to the acre. and enclosing
tho grounds with n slight fence or guard Of
brush. He then lett the place until tho trees
had ~ q measure grown. The OLD settlers
describe the margins 81 the streams upon which
these early nurseries were planted ~ thckly
covered over with n low matted growth Of TIM
hcr. while near the writer's edge Il rank mass Of
long grass. interlacod with morning glory and
wild pea vines. among which dropping willows
AMI clustering elders stood ike scntlncls on the
outpost OF civilization.
HOW JOHNNY Dfp MS WORK.
The canoe voyage Of 1896 appears TO have boon
the only Occasion upon which Johnny adoutod
that method OF transportation. all his other
lQurnrys having been made on loot over tho
old trail leHlin from Fort Duduo sne ~ Detroit
10y way ~ Fort SAndusky. known rs " the see
ond route through the wilderness Of Ohio"
Having planted one stock II seeds. he would
IfNuffl 10 lfnn~AlNinlA Tor an tNtr. Eili tfifZ
item from the cider presses nt diirr"ut plu"os.
These seeds he conveyed to their de-tluHtIpu in
rude lrnth"rn bags. in place OF linen on'H. the
drn=" growth Ot undcrbrush and hriur- rn-
ruuntcr"d upon the way milking 10" uso
~ som" more durable fabric necessary.
mctlmcs the bags found TRANSFORMATION ON
the hurk ~ an aged or brokcn-down horse
which their owner had mercifully rescued from
harder usage hut more FREQUENTLY ON his own
sturdy shoulders. 4 long aud tOllslme Journey
u WIS; but JOHNNY unhcs itatlngly ~houi!crcd
his bags or apple seeds and. penetrating to tho
remote wilderness, planted them In some se-
,lu'ltI sLW, rnnulnlng pirtureSquen'ss ana
fertility ~ soliciting them grow until required
10y the settlers. whose homes had IN the mean
Time sprung w IN the neighhnrhood OF his
Isolated clearinG~. In this way tho wilderness
was mad" To blossom and bloom like a ros'
ami the foundation was Land Tor that immense
growth OF fruit trees whose yield forms 50 i'm
portant a mart OF tho annual products OF this
part OF the state.
JoHSSY's BUSINESS METHODS.
When the trees We're ready for sale. Johnny
either sold them himself Mt a very low price or
LEFT them in charge ot some one 10 sell Tor him
And Ia this matter Of sales he was ~ mrtho,ii-
cal N any merchant. II the customer was too
poor tO purchase trees. which frequently hap
pened. he got them without pay II in better
circumstances but destitute Of ready cash
Johnny made some convenient traie. taking old
clothing or a Supply OF corn meal IN tx hang" (;
but u the owner WAS ell-to-ip johnny do
manded money. which he was seldom without
His general custom. however. WIS 10 take a
note, payable at some indefinite period. Having
received H. he troubled himself no further about
the ptbment. nslderng the transaction at an
end ns. indeed. il generally WAS. Caring little
for money. aud with very limited personal
wants bee frequently came into possess ION
10y the sale % trees. II moro money than hr
cured 10 kcop This he soon dispn-.i III IN
gilts 20 some poor family, struggling against
IN" mi~fortunrs common To- IA life On the bpr-
der, lu the purchase % doctrinnl books ~ tho
Swed"nhorginn tHith fnr grntultous dl-trihu-
ton. and iu ih" cur' %. aged aut intirm hors o.
! THE Htt q charity. indeed. scums To- have rpn-
- tuiol an important pHrt Of his mission.
Wherever he saw or heard Of an animal helng
abused %" at on '" pur hased u, nud gave IL To-
t'Wn NOR" humane farmer. sttpu atins Tor Us
hiudly treatment. Tho severe labors incident
/ o. rough frontier life often manned or dis
ul"d horses which. otherwise a burl'n to
th"lr owners, w"rn turmoil loose o. lie. When
over johnny heard 10 such an animal ho imm"-
diaieIy made dll-cnt s'urch Tor lt, and. bar
| i.unin. for ia proper care during the winter
l'd 70 away IN the summer to some rich pasture
which bee had found ia his watering. In this
way he often coll" tod considerably drove of
animals. tn" cInNdleS."nt members ~ which he
prr-lstrntly refused To- sell, but readily gave
away a. such persons Ne bound themselves
so.tmnly 10 treat them we'll
An EXAGGERATED RrRGH.
Upon the same principal he regarded tho in
Fiction oi pain or death upon any creature ~
nm aim 81 unpardouahlo sin. HIS concept GA
Of m" h"inou~n 49, of this sin, too was NOT linz
lied To- the hirh"r forms of life. but extended a.
the m,nu'n-i insect nuI To i- m"r. disturb .nco
Gr lnrten\, nl"n'". one gutlnhiI nisui, while
lying by his camp FIR" lnt," woods. nH"i serve"
that th" uusuu.to'S blow into the flames and
were burned. Taking the hugo TN ilrprr,
which nn-N rrgd the double putpNsr oi cuu aud
mu-h uot. irOin hi- head ho ii. '.d 20 with wat"r
mui gu"n h"i the ,nrr. r,mUkng all"l yard.
comfort WIN N should nr tic mean- Of destroy.
ing any ~ II - crrHtur'-i' A. another tlme ne
made hs cump ire at ihs rnl Of a
the might. hut finding i occupied ny bear
and her rul b" moved thr fire g. the other
end, ami 1irpt ln The snow rather than disturb
o." h.ir-. MWklus ON" morning over % small
| rrnlrlt 10" was hiton hy rHtil snake. Some
tim" ut"rWIri, "a trend inquired of him about
lhe mAicr "A drw long sigh aud replied;
l""f "U 'N ID" 'hN just lntl 'ru mo. Wl'u