The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-05-18
JOHNNY Appl ceCEH -
a UniQur and Very Useful Character of
Pioneer Days.

"a tEiIut anu srful Character OF
Pioneer Days.
Among the heroes of endurance
and of creative action was one man
whose name deserves TO he perpetu-
ated. He was johnny Applcsecd,"
by which name Jonathan Chapman
was known in every cabin on tho
Ohio river to the northern lakes and
west to what is now Indiana. With
two canoes lashed together this in
trepid youth of 26 transported load
of apple seeds to tho western frontier
for the purpose of creating orchards.
He passed down the Ohio to Mariet-
tn, ascending the Muskingum on up
ward to tho head of navigation. a
long, hard voyage it was, for tho
lono traveller stopped at every invit-
ing place to plant his seeds.
His canoe voyage i'll 1906 appears
to have been the only occasion upon
which ho adopted that method of
transportation, all subsequent jour
neys being made on foot. Securely
packed i'll leather bags the seeds
were sometimes conveyed on the
back Of Il horse and sometimes on
his own shoulders, when he would
often journey Il distance of $50
miles. The frOntiers1nan who felt
himself protected by his rifle against
wild beasts and hostile Indians
found it necessary to guard against
the insidious enemies in the grass
by wrapping bantlagcs of dried grass
about his buckskin logging, but
Chapman would shoulder his bag of
seeds and with barn feet penetrate
to the remotest parts. Even in tho
coolest weather he went barefoot,
but sometimes for long Journeys he
would make himself rude pair Of
sandals. 1t seems to havo been u
matter of conscience with him mover
to purchase shoes, though he never
was without money.
One cold winter day lie was trav-
cling barefoot through the snow
when Il settler forced the acceptance
of an old palr of shoes upon him. a
few days after tho donor met John
ny contentcdly plodding along with
his feet bare and half frozen With
somo anger ho inquired into tho
matter and learned that Johnny had
met poor man who seemed to need
them more than he did, SO he gave
them up
He was very eccentric in dress,
wearing garment made Of coffee
sack in which he cut holes for his
head and arms and pronounced it "a
very scrviceable cloak, and as good
as any man need wear In tho
matter of hcadgeur his taste was
equally unique. His first expert
mont was tin vessel that served
for his cooking, but this was open
to the objection that it did not pro-
tect his eyes from the beams of the
sun, SO he constructed hat of
pusteboa:d, with an immense peak
in front, which became his porma-
nent fashion.
Appleseed continued his wanderings
and was never harmed by the bands
of hostile Indians, who regarded
him as great medicine man" on
account Of his eccentric dress and
actions.
For 46 years he devoted his life to
this self imposed mission, and died
placid and beautiful death ut the
age of 72. Thus passed one of the
memorable men of pioneer times,
who never inflicted pain or knew
an enemy. q solf denying benofao-
tor of his race, homeless, solitary
and ragged, he trod tho earth with
bleeding feet, intent only upon max
ing tho wilderness fruitful. His
deeds will last as long as the appln;
blossom, and the story of his life
will be Il perpetual proof that true
heroisn, pure henevolence and no
bio virtues that deserve Immortality
may be found under tho meancst
apparel. Detroit FREQ Press.