Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-29
JOHNNY APPLEsEED.
The Quaint Pioneer Who Planted Or
cnarGs In Ohio.
100 9 Cell.mbts Leiter.

Tro,a q CoIsmbws Letter.
one Of the most striking and in fact
interesting pioneer characters of 1900 was
Jonathan Chapman, q man who. owing
to his odd occupation, was generally
Known as johnny Appleseed." He
made his first appearance in Western
Pennsylvania, coming from Boston, Mass.
He possessed n strong passion for raising
and cultiVating apple trees nom the seed,
claiming that that was the only proper
yvay IN plant an orchard. In the spring
If iSO1 Chapman made his way to ONO,
nj which time he appeared on the borders
If Licking Creek, Tin what is now known
as Licking county, with hOrselOau OF
appleseeds, which he planted IN various
rlaces on and about the banks oil Jnat
stream. There is no authentic account
of his movements during the i've succeed
ing years, although he was undoubtedly
following the same strange VOCATION
Early in the spring OF 1906 pioneer
settler of Jefferson county noticed Pc
culiar craft with a curious cargo anu
remarkable occupant moving down Ine
Ono river with the current. III was
Johnny Appleseed" bv which name
CHAPMAN was known from loOO unLl tue
time of his death, which occurred III 1o4''
in every log ca bin from the ONO river 10
the great lakes on the north, and as Iar
west as the present eastern boundary OF
Indiana with two canoes dashed together,
TRANSPORTING load Of seeds to the then
western frontiers for the purpose oil pant
ing them on the remOtest verge OF Whlte
settlements. In following his tayOrlte
pursuit he always kept on the outskirts
OF the settlements; cleaning spots IN the
loamv lands on the banks OF streams,
where he would plant his seeds, place
slight Enclosure around the ground, and
then leave the place until the trees had
become sufficiently large to be trans
nlanted. Settlers began to flock in aud
omen cIearings. To those who wanted an
orchard on their place Johnny would
furnish young trees. He had no idea OF
making any money out Of his occupation,
generally giving the trees away or selling
them for a trile, such as an old coat or any
article of which he could MAKE some use.
In this way he proceeded for years, until
the country was in a measure settled and
supplied with apple trees.
Chapman's personal appearance was as
striking as his character. He was
a small man, quick aud restless in his
motions; his eyes were black and spark
led with peculiar brightness, while his
hair and beard were long and dark. de
never shaved, and lived the toughest life,
Dlten sleeping IN the woods in preference
10 accepting the hospitality OF a settler.
generally given him in exchange for ap-
pie trees. He invariably went barefOOted,
and frequently travelled miles through the
snow in that way. Only once was be ever
known to wear foot covering OF any kind.
A settler, who happened TO own "A pair Of
shoes that were too small for his own use,
forced them upon "JOhnny," who reluc-
family put them on. The next day John
ny" overlook a poor baretoOted family
moving Westward, and as they appeared
to be in greater need of footwear than he
was, he gave them the shoes.
He was follower of SWedenborg, took
no thought of the morrow, and led moral,
bIameless life. 1t was his custom to cir
culate SwedenbOrgian works wherever he
went. and if short Of them would tear
book into two or three parts, giving each
part to different persons. In that way he
supplied a neighbOrhoOd with religious
literature, although those to whom he
gave the latter part of the book to read
first must have found it difficult to COM
prehend the author. He was very care
full not to injure any animal, and thought
hunting morally wrong. Among toe set
tiers he was always welcome, and he was
treated with great kindness even by the
Indians, who regarded him as 'great
medicine man,
Chapman was peculiar and eccentric in
the extreme, as the few anecdotes which
give below will illustrate: On one cool
autumnal night, while lying by his camp
fire in the woods, he observed that the
mosquitoes few in the blaze and were
burned. johnny" who wore on his
head a tin utensIl which answered both
as cap and mush pot, filled 1t with
water and quenched the fire, and then re-
marked, 'GOd forbid that should build
fire for my comfort that should be the
means OF destroying any of his creatures"
Another time he made his campfire at the
end OF hollow log. in which he intended
TO pass the night, but finding il occupied
by bear and her cubs he removed his
hre to the other end and slept on the snow
IN the open air rather than disturb the
bear. He was one morning in q prairie
and was bitten by a rattlesnake. Some
time after friend inquired about the
matter. Johnny drew a long sigh and
replied: Poor fellow! he only lust touch
ed me, when |, in an ungodly passion,
put the heel of my scythe on him and
went home. Some time after went there
Tor my scythe, and there lay the poor fell
low dead" An itinerant preacher was
holding forth on the public square in the
present city of Mansfield, and during the
course OF bis remarks exclaimed: "Where
Is the bareioOted Christian travelling to
heayenY Johnny" who was lying on
his back on some timber, taking the ques-
lon in its literal sense, raised his bare
ieet in the air and yociferated, 'Here he
lsp'
In lS3S-39-years after his appearance
at Licking creek-''JOhnny" observed that
civilization and wealth were fast trans
forming the wilderness Of Ohio into a
uenseiy populated State. Churches were
making their appearance and the stage
unYers horn broke the silence Of the
forests, ana as he had. always kept just
W advance of ;he wave of settlement, he
.'.l tnat bis work was done in this region
W WHICH be had lao0red so long. He Wis
lted all the houses Of the settlers, took a
solemn farewell of every family, and
turned his steps further west, again TO
pursue his eccentric vocation. In the
summer Of lS4l. at the close OF a warm
nay after travelling 20 miles he entered
,he house of a settler i'm Allen county,
ma, and was, as usual, warmly well
eomed. Declining other accommodation,
ne lay down on the loOr tor the night. In
ne morning be was dead. and thus ended
ne mission OF man who was both a
9eneiactor and a nero. Chapman is un-
louOtediy entitled TO the fame Of being
ae earliest c0lpOrteur on the frontiers OF