Dianna:
Since Jonathon Chapman didn't have any descendents, Which one of his
siblings are you related through?? Just curious.
Jack
----- Original Message -----
From: "Diana Owen" <dianaowen(a)cox.net>
To: <CHAPMAN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 4:09 PM
Subject: [CHAPMAN-L] Johnny Appleseed/Jonathan CHAPMAN - transcription
History of Richland County, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
p 431-432
At an early day, there was a very eccentric character who frequently was
in this
region,
well remembered by the early settlers. His name was JONATHAN CHAPMAN,
but
he was
usually known as JOHNNY APPLESEED. He was originally, it is supposed,
from
New
England.
He had imbibed a remarkable passion for the rearing and cultivation of
apple trees
from
the seed. He first made his appearances in western Pennsylvania, and
from
thence made
his way into Ohio, keeping on the outskirts of the settlements, and
following his favorite
pursuit.
He was accustomed to clear spots in the loamy lands on the banks of the
streams,
plant his seeds, enclose the ground, and then leave the place until
the
treees had in
measure grown.
When the settlers began to flock in and open their "clearings" Johnny was
ready for them
with his young trees, which he either gave away or sold for some
trifle,
as an old coat, or
any article of which he could make use. Thus he proceeded for many
years,
until the whole
country was in a measure settled and supplied with apple trees,
deriving
self satisfaction
acounting t almost delight, in the indulgence of his engrossing
passion.
About 20 years
since he removed to the far west, there to enact over again the same
career of humble
usefulness.
His personal appearance was as singular as his character. He was a small
"chunked" man,
quick and restless in his motions and conversation; his beard and
hair
were long and dark,
and his eye black and sparkling. He lived the roughest life, and
often
slept in the trees. He
went bare-footed and often travelled miles through the snow in that
way.
In doctrine he
was a follower of SWEDENBOURG, leading a moral, blameless life,
likening
himself to
the primitive Christians, literally taking no thought for the morrow.
Wherever he went he
circulated SWEDENBORGIAN works, and if short of them, would tear a
book in
two and
give each part to different persons. He was careful not to insjure
any
animal, and thought
with great kindness even by the Indians. We give a few anecdotes,
illustrative of his
character and eccentricities.
On one cool autumnal night, while lying by his camp-fire in the woods, he
observed
that
the musquitos flew in the blaze and were burnt. Johny, who wore on
his
head a tin utensil
which answered both as a cap and a mush pot, filled it with water and
quenched the fire,
and afterwards remarked, "God forbid that I should build a fire
for my
comfort, that should
be the means of destroying any of his creatures." Another time
he made his
camp-fire
at the end of a hollow log in which he intended to pass the night,
but
finding it occupied
by a bear and her cubs, he removed his fire to the other end, and
slept on
the snow in the
open air, rather than to disturb the bear. He was one morning in a
prairie, and was bitten
by a rattlesnake. Some time after, a friend inquired of him about thr
matter. He drew a
long sigh and replied, Poor fellow! he only just rouched me, when I
in an
ungodly passion,
put the heel of my scythe on him and went home. Some time after I
went
there for my
scythe, and there lay the poor fellow dead." He bought a coffee
bag, made
a hole in the
bottom, through which he thrust his head and wore it as a cloak,
saying it
was as good
as any thing. An itinerant preacher was holding forth on the public
square
in Mansfield (OH),
and exclaimed, "where is the bre-footed Christian, travelling to
heaven?".
Johnny, who was
lying on his back on some timber, taking the question in its leteral
sense, raised his bare
feet in the air, and vociferated "here he is!".
Transcribed by
Diana Chapman Owen (4th cousin, 4 times removed to Jonathan CHAPMAN, thru
my SMITH
line)
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