The Coolidge examiner., 1934-09-21
\4N[M~~ g1sES>>\ cJoInr4 Appleseeds Grave
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A Receipt for Apple
Trees as Written By Chapman

and there Is no way OF telling how many thou
sands Of fruit trees he started during the course
OF bis 40 years OF wandering As Ohio began 10
settle up be spent more and more OF his time
farther west In Indiana and Illinois. and II is
more than likely that he crossed the Mississippi
into Missouri and that some OF the orchards In
that state owe their origin 10 this queer genius.
With nothing more than an az. Ratchet and
a hoe De would seek out protected spot among
the trees near n stream and there dig up the
sou until IL was thoroughly pulverlzed Then be
would plant thousands OF apple. peach and pear
seeds and build a brush fence around the infant
nursery 10 keep away deer and other grazing
animals when the settlers arrived they bad only
go dlg up the apple seedlings and replant them,
wheu they had established their homes. TO start
an orchard. Johnny planted other things besides
apple trees in the wilderness. Small fruits such
as grapes and berries be scattered through the
forests
Planting trees was not the only activity In the
odyssey OF Johnny Appleseed- lie was always
welcome visitor In the log cabins OF the settlers.
for be always carried a Bible and some books
from which he would read and preach to them
as they sat before their blazing hreplaces In the
evening.
Chapman Is said to have been a disciple OF
John Swedenborg and certainly he practlced bis
teachings OF humility and kIndllness lie never
killed anything for food lie carried a kit OF
cooking utensils. Including a mush pan. which
he sometimes wore hat Usually be wore
a broad-brlmmed black hat. but this was about
the only article OF clothing In which he bowed
TO convention. lie clad In a ragged shirt
which oosened about his waist. served also as
travelling bag In which be carried various arti-
cles lie usually wore two or three pairs OF
trousers. one over the other, 80 that the holes
wouldn't show and his cloak was a common
gunny sack with holes cut for the head and
sleeves. Most OF the time he went barefoot In
winter well as IN summer. No wonder the
white men called him queer" But the Indians
said "He has been touched by the Great Spirit"
and he was as welcome in their lodges as in
the cabins OF the whites.
This fact made Johnny Appleseed an espe-
cially important figure in the early history OF
the Ohio valley He frequently gave the settlers
warning OF Indian raids and In this manner
doubtless saved hundreds Of lives. During the
War OF 1912 when the British and Indians were
overrunnlng Ohio Johnny repeatedly warned the
Americans OF approaching danger.
Just as there is a variation in the dates
signed for his birth. so DO the historians dis.
agree as TO the date OF his death. The Fort
Wayne memorial gives II as 1913 does the
tablet on the iron fence which surrounds his
grave In the Archer burying ground near Fort
Wayne One bographer says the date was
March IL 1s45 and another puts IL at March H.
lS47-a difference OF two years but, at least.
they agree on March IL
Whatever the date IL Is definitely established
that the place OF his death was in the home OF
friend. William Worth. In Fort Wayne. He
was buried IN what was known as the Archer
burying ground near that city For many years
his grave neglected and il seemed that
Johnny Appleseed was about TO be forgotten by
a generation who knew little OF his labors In
their behalf Then In 1912 the Indiana Horti-
cultural society and the Ohio Horticultural
society decided that II was time TO take action
and save Johnny Appleseeds name and fame
from being utterly lost. The burylng ground where
he slept known. but the exact location OF
his grave was uncertain. Pioneer residents OF
the locality were sought out and by pieclng
together their stories 1t was possible TO deter
mine the plot OF ground which held the dust
OF Johnny AppIeseed So an iron fence was built
around IL and on II was placed a tablet. bearing
his name and the date OF his death QS43).
When the news Of his death reached Wash
ington 1t is said that Gen. Sam Houston, then
senator from Texas, paid this tribute 20 him
This old man one OF the most useful clti-
zens Of the world In his humble way. He has
made a greater contribution TO our civilization
than realize. He has left a place that can
neTer be filed. Farewell, dear old eccentric
heart. Your labor has been labor OF love, and
generations yet unborn will rise up and call you
blessed"
G by Western Newspaper Union