The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-07-01
JOHNNY APPLESEED,
An Old Pioneer Who Went About Plant.
ing Orchards In the Wilderness.

|
| An Old Pioneer Who Went About Plant.
ing Orchards In the Wilderness.
One of the most striking and in fac,
interesting pioneer characters of 1900
was jonathan Chapman, man who,
owing to his odd occupation, was gen.
orally known as Johnny Appleseed. :"
He made his first appearance in West
ern Pennsylvania, comingfrom 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 lin what is now known
as Licking County, with 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 a 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 1S47, 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
slight inclosure around the ground,
and then leave thesplacet Until the trees
had become sufficiently large to be
transplanted. 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 4
trifle, such as an old coat or any article
Eof 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 and restless in his
motions; his eyes were black and SPAR
kled with q peculiar brightness, while
his 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
Of settler. His clothing was old and
ragged, being generally given him in
exchange for apple trees. He invaria-
bly, went barefooted, and frequently
travelled 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
use forced them upon Johnny who
reluctantly put them on. The next day
johnny" overlook poor barefooted
family moving westward, and as they
appeared to be in greater need of foot
wear than he was he gave them the
| shoes.
Chapman was peculiar and eccentric
in the extreme, as the few anecdotes
which Igive below viii illustrate: On
one cold autumnal night, while lying
by his campfire in the woods. he OBJ
served that the mosquitoes flew In the
blaze and were burned. Johnny
who wore on his head tin utensil,
which answered both as a cap
and mush-pot. filled it with
water and quenched the fire
and then remarked: "God forbid
that | should build fire for nv COM
fort that should be the means of de-
stroying any of His creatures An
other time he made his campfire at
the end of a hollow log, in which he
intended to pass the night, but finding
it occupied by bear and her cubs he
removed his fire to the other end and
slept upon the snow in the open air
rather than disturb the bear. He was
one morning on the prairie and was
bitten by rattlesnake. Some TIME
after friend inquired about the mat
ter. Johnny drew long sigh and
replied: .Poor fellow! he only just
touched me, when /, in an ungodly
passion. put the heel of my scythe on
him and went home. Some time after
| went there for my scythe, and there
lay the poor fellow dead.'' An timer.
ant preacher was holding forth on the
public square in the present city oi
Mansfield, and during the course OF
his remarks exclaimed: where is the
barefooted Christian travelling to heav-
ene" "Johnny," who was lying on
his back on some timber, taking the
question in its literal sense, raised his
bare feet in the air and vociferated:
Here he isP''-C Columbus 10Y Cor.
CleUeldnd Plain Dealer. g
i A Discreet Customer.