The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-21

- had been erected In his honor.
In park In Mansfield Ohio. he would see
tail marble shaft on which Is Inscribed: In
memory of John Chapman. best known Johnny
Appleseed, pioneer nurseryman Of Rlchland
county from 1910 20 1890"
In the city of Ashland In the same state he
would Ind a monument made Of boulders to
which Is affixed a bronze tablet which says: In
memory of Ashland County Pioneers including
Johnny Applesced. John Chapman an Ohio hero
patron Salnt % American orchards aud soldier
o. peace lie went about doing good Erected
By the school children of Ashland county. OhIo
July 5. 1915. on the Tooth anniversary OF the
founding of Unlouiowu. now Ashland"
In the same county. near Mlfiln, be would
End his name. the date OF his birth and death
and the place OF his burial engraved on the
Copus Massacre monument. honoring James
Copus and the three soldiers who were killed
there By the Indians during the War OF isl2.
In Fort Wayne Ind he would see a huge
granite boulder bearing a bronze tablet which
displays the figure OF and the following
inscription. Johnny Appleseed was born In
Massachusetts, In ira Died near Fort Wayne
in iSs3. Buried In David Archer's cemetery.
Pioneer apple grower OF Indiana and Ohio. The
Indiana Horticultural society and all those who
are endeavoring 20 carry on the work be nobly
commenced Join In dedcatlng this monument
10 the memory Of his deeds"
But IL Is probable that OF all the memorials
honorng Johnny Appleseed. the one which viii
scon adorn his native city of Springfield. Mass.
would delight him most For Il is no marker OF
cold stone and bronze. Instead II IL 20 be
living memorial. one which VIII bloom with
beauty each recurring spring II Is four.acre
tract % land. which may have once belonged 10
his father and over which be undoubtedly roamed
as a boy. and there the Springfield Garden club.
sponsors of the project. win plant apple trees
and other frultbearers and maintain this unique
memorial as public park.
The tract Of land Is roughly leaf-shaped with
the Nl river as It's stem aud It's Irregular con-
tours hold promise OF making a place OF un-
usual beauty. Flowering crabapples viii have
place 10 display their spectacular profusIon Of
bloom. There viii be a wide variety OF the
sturdy old New England varieties OF apples
which Johnny spread broadcast throughout the
East and the old Northwest Low hillsdes viii
be fragrant with laurel and the park viii also
contain white oak hawthorn red bud dogwood
Wild plum. butiernut. sassafras. honeysuckie.
trumpet vine. the fox crane tfrom which the
modern Concord grape is descended). Wild
Strawberries. blackberries and blueberries-In
fact all kinds of trees and shrubs connected
with the Johnny Appleseed tradition.
Rustic bridges are TO link the banks OF the
MIL river In It's brief course through the park
and the Illusion of distance and height In the
small tract win be created by the planting OF
tan trees on the upper levels OF the slopes
Although the trees such as Johnny loved. and
the park itself viii be the memorial 10 him.
there Is also 10 be in II large field boulder
bearing bronze tablet with brief sketch OF
his association with that city.
Although so much legend has become attached
20 Johnny Appleseed's name that IL is difficult
10 know where fact leaves Off and fiction begins.
Il seems clearly established that he was born
In or near Leominster. Mass. on September &C.
ITT4. He was one of three children born TO
Nathaniel Chapman and Elizabeth Smons (or
Simondsl Chapman. who were married on Feb
ruary s i77O. Nathaniel Chapman served in a
company OF Minute Men at the outbreak OF the
Revolution. but after the death OF his wife on
July Is. 1T76. he appears To have taken his two
motherless children Elizabeth. six. and Johnny.
two (another son. Nathaniel. born that year.
had died IN .ufaneyl. ard moved To Springfield.
Local tradition says that Nathaniel Chapman
supported his family by turning out the wooden
bowls and dishes used by the people of that day
and that young John his constant COM
panion going with him as be peddled his wood
enware in the towns around Springfield. There
is also a tradition that Johnny's love for apple
trees dated from his youthful fondneSs for the
one which stood outside the door OF his fathers
ICs cabin and under which he played a boy