St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1886-07-10
JOHNNY APPLESegD,
IN Old Pioneer Who Went About PlAnt.
Ing Orchards In tho Wilderness.


IN Old Pioneer Who Went About Plant
Ing Orchards In tho Wilderness.
One of the most striking and in fac
interesting pioneer characters of 1SOt
was Jonathan Chapman, a man who
owing to his odd occupation. was gen
orally known as johnny Appleseed. y
He made his first appearance in West
ern Pennsylvania, coming from Boston,
Mass. He possessed strong passion
for raising and cultivating apple trees
from the seed, claiming that that was
the only proper way to plant an
orchard. In the spring of 1901 Chap.
man made his way to Ohio. at which
time he appeared on the borders of
Licking creek Tin what is now known
as Licking County.) with a horseload
of appleseeds, which he planted in
various places on and about the bank
of that stream. There is no authentic
account of his movements during the
five succeeding years. although he was
undoubtedly following the same strange
vocation.
Early in the spring of 1906 pioneer
settler of Jefferson County noticed a
peculiar craft with curious cargo and
a remarkable occupant moving down
the Ohio river with the current. 1t was
Johnny Appleseed' (by which name
Chapman was known from 1906 until
the time of his death. which occurred
in 1917. in every log cabin from the
Ohio river to the great lakes on the
north and as far west as the present
eastern boundary of Indiana) with two
canoes lashed together, transporting a
load of seeds to the then western from
tiers for the purpose of planting tn EN-
in the remotest verge of white settle
ments. In following his favorite pur-
suit he always kept on the outskirts of
the settlements cleaning spots in the
loamy lands on the banks of streams,
where he would plant his seeds, place
a slight inclosure around the ground,
and then leave the place until the trees
had become sufficiently large to be
Settlers began to flock
in and open clearings. 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
tritle. 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 measure settled
and supplied with apple trees.
Chapman's personal appearance was
as striking as his character. He was
small man. quick and restless in his
his eyes were black and SPAR
xled with peculiar brightness, while
MS hair and beard were long and dark.
He never shaved. and lived the rough
est life, often sleeping in the woods in
preference to accepting the hospitality
If Il settler. His clothing was old and
ragged, being generally given him in
exchange for apple trees. He invaria-
oly went barefooted. and frequently
miles through the snow in that
way. Only once was he ever known to
wear foot-covering of any kind. A
settler who happened to own pair of
shoes that were too small for his own
lse forced them upon johnny" who
reluctantly put them on. The next day
Johnny" overlook poor barefooted
amily moving westward, and as they
appeared to be in greater need of foot
wear than he was he gave them the
hoes.
Chapman was peculiar and eccentric
n the extreme. as the few anecdotes
which | give below will illustrate: On
me cold autumnal night, while lying
y his campfire in the woods, he OBJ
erved that the mosquitoes flew in the
,laze and were burned. JOHNNY"
Who wore on his head tin utensil,
which answered both as cap
nd mush-pot, filled it with
vater and quenched the fire
md then remarked: "God forbid
hat should build fire for my COM
ort that should be the means of de-
troying any of His creatures. An
'ther time he made his campfire at
he end of a hollow log, in which he
Intended to pass the night, but finding
occupied by bear and her cubs he
emoved his fire to the other end and
slept upon the snow in the open air
ather than disturb the bear. He was
me morning on the prairie and was
'itten by rattlesnake. Some time
fter friend inquired about the mat
er. johnny" drew a long sigh and
eplied: '.Poor fellow! he only just
ouched me, when |, in an ungodly
'assion. put the heel of my scythe on
i'm and went home Some time after
went there for my scythe, and there
ay the poor fellow dead An timer
nt ,,roo char u-.S bold;pp forth IN tho
'ublic square in the present city of
iansfield. and during the course of
lis remarks exclaimed: ..Where is the
arefooted Christian travelling to heav-
M" Johnny" who was lying on
lis back on some timber, taking the
question in its literal sense. raised his
ARE feet in the air and vociferated:
Here he s?'-Colunbms (O.) Cor.
vereldnd Plain Dealer.