The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-27
JOHNNY APPLESEED.'
THE QUAINT PIONEER WHO PLANTED
ORCHARDS m OHIO.

Striking and Most Interesting Character
North of the Ohio RIver--.Anecdotes of
the Old Man.
One of the most striking and in fact in.
teresting pioneer characters of 1871 was
Jonathan Chapman, a man who owing 10
his odd occupation, was generally known as
Johnny Apple,eed he made his first ap-
pearancc in western Pennsylvania, coming
from Boston, Mass. He possessed n strong
passion for raising and cultigating apple
trees from the seed, claiming that that was
the only proper way to plant an orchard.
In the spring of 1901 Chapman made his
way to Ohio, at which time he appeared on
the torders OF Licking creek in what is
now known as Licking county, with horse
load OF apple seeds, which he planted in
various places on and about the banks of
that stream There is no Authentic account
OF his movements daring the live succeeding
years, although he was undoubtedly follow
| ing the same strange vocation.
Early in the spring of 1906 "A pioneer set
| tier OF Jefferson county noticed "a peculiar
| craft with curious cargo and remarkable
occupant moving down the Ohio river with
the current 1t was Johnny Appleseed, -
| (hy which name Chapman was known from
| 1906 until the time OF his death, which oc-
currei in 49, in every log cabin from tho
Oaio river to the great lakes on the north
and as far west rs the present eastern
boundary of Indiana, with two canoes
dashed together, transporting load of seeds
to the then western frontiers for the purpose
| of planting them on the most remotest yer 20
| of white settlements.
| SCATTERING THE FRUIT SEED.
In following his favorite pursuit he
always kept on the outskirts OF the settle
ments; cleaning spots in the loamy lands OIL
| the banks of streams, whore 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
transllanted Settlers began to flock in and
open cearinss, TO those who wanted an
orchard on their places, johnny" would
furnish young trees He had no idea OF
making any money out of his occupation,
generally giving the trees away or selling
chem for iriiie, such as an old coat or any
article of which he could make some use
In this way he proceeded for years unit
supplied with apple tress
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 sparkled with peculiar
brightness while his hair and beard wert
long and dark lie never shaved ami hvet
tho toughest life, often sleeping in the
woods i'll preference to accepting the hospi
I II n 4
and ragged, Icing generally given him ii
| exchange for apple trees He invariably
went barefooted, and frequently Travelled
miles through the snow that way. Only
once was he ever known to wear foot GOV
ering OF any kind A settler, who happened
t. own a pair shoes that were too small fo
hls own Use, forced them upon johnny,
who reluctantly put them on The next day
johnny" overlook a barefooted family
moving westward, and as they appeared Il
be in greater neeed of footwear than he wa
he gave them the shoes
lie was a follower of Swdenborg, too
no thought of the morrow and led moral
blameless life 1t was his custom to circu
late Swedenborgian works wherever h
went, and if short of them would tear
look into two or three parts
giving each part to differen
| persons, In that way he supplie
Il neighborhood with u religious literature
although those to whom he gave the latte
part OF the book to read first, must hav
found it difficult to comprehend the author
He was very careful not to injure any AM
NAL, and thought hunting morally wrong
Among the settlers he was always welcome
and he WAS treated with great kindness eve
by the Indians, who regarded him as
great medicine man"
VERY PECULIAR AND ECCENTRIC.
Chapman was peculiar and eccentric i