Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-08-26
JOHNNY APPLESEED
Planted and Cared for Orchards-In.
dams Chilled Him m wixnrd

During the first decade Of the nineteenth
century, when Ohio was still a vast wild =
erness. save for few river and lake
towns queer looking man came down
the Ohio in canoe, towing another, and
both were loaded with sacks Of ample
seeds, according to High Spots in Ohio's
History in the Columbus Citizen. The
work of the American Forestry Associa-
ton of Washington d. c., in campaign
| ing for memorial tree planting and the
planting OF fruit or nut bearing trees
wherever possible, particularly ir the
gardens of the country, makes the life
story of Johnny Applesesd" interesting
at this time.
The man was John Chapman. known in
Ohio history as Johnny Appleseed"
who did more for encouraging the grow
ing of apples within the Buckeye State
than any man who has come after him
Johnny went ashore in what Is now
Jefferson County and at a spot nine miles
below Steubenvlle he planted his first
orchard. This was in 1906. He had
brought the seed from cider mills up in
Pennsylvania.
For more than 80 years following this
Johnny Appleseed was a noted character
FIN the wilds of Ohio. Every pioneer fami-
lY knew and loved him and every latch
string was open to him.
People in those DAYS called Johnny
| queer" but even so, he had a wide in
fuence on thir lives. He was educated
refined and polite and everywhere he
went throughout the State he carried
Bible and few books with him and
fevenings, as he enjoyed the hospitali-
~ of some log cabin he would lie before
the fire and read to the family and ex-
pound religion.
Johnny's idea was to set out orchards
In various parts of the State so that there
would be young trees ready for the new
settler to plant on his land when he ar
rived in Ohio. In the course of year
Johnny would travel hundreds Of miles
going from one orchard to another prun-
ing and taking care Of the young trees
that he had planted.
Although the forests abounded with hun
dreds of savage Indians who were con-
tnually numbering the whites, none Of
them ever bothered Johnny. They re-
garded him az a wizard and the fact
that he never carried gun convinced the
Red Men that he was under the special
guidance OF the Great Spirit
An early Ohio historian describes
Johnny as follows:
His nature was a deeply religious one
and his life was blameess among his
fcllowmen. He regarded comfort more
than style and thought it wrong to spend
money for clothing to make fine ap-
pearancc. He usually wore broad
brimmed hat. He went barefooted not
only In the summer, but often In cold
weather, and coffee sack, with neck and
armholes cut in it. was worn as coat
Upon his journeys Johnny usually
camped out. He never killed anything,
IIn lad 1t AP
ing utensils with him. among which was
a mush pan, which he sometimes wore
as a hat"
During the War of 1872. when the Brit
sh and the Indians were terrorizing the
population Of Ohio, Johnny ,often warned
the people of approaching danger.
Once. the Indians killed n man in Rich
land County and the residents of Mans
field fled to the blockhouse which was
the towns public square. It was be-
lieved a general massacre was about to
be attempted by the savages and 1t was
imperative that help be secured from
t"oons that were then at Mt. Vernon. But
who would go? The Indians We're lurk-
ing on every side and 1t was thought to
hc certain death for any messenger who
lniTnt attempt the trip.
Johnny Appleseed, barefooted, bare
headed. volunteered to go. That night
he disappeared into the woods and be-
tween Mansfield and Mt. Vernon he
visited many settlers cabins and warned
tHem of the danger. When he returned
TO Mansfield 1t was with enough help to
overawe the Indians and prevent tho
ATTACH.
In his late years Johnny left Ohio ana
want 20 Fort Wayne. Indiana. to live
with n relative. There he died In 1s47.