Page 38 - May1990

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For many years, John carried out his work in the wilderness, and every so often,
made it back to Longmeadow to see his family. One time he found his father quite ill.
His step-mother was later to say that John took over much of the nursing, as gently as
a woman. He was so calm and cheerful, that by the time death came to his father in his
sixty-first year, he was convinced that heaven was like taking a pleasantjourney to
nearby country and that there was nothing sad about death. A picture of General
Washington hung on the wall of his father's room. His last words were "Follow, follow
Washington." There was mourning, but John said not to grieve. He said the captain's
life and his rebirth into heaven was like the growth of a seed into a tree-to flower and to
fruit. That is God's nature plan, declared John. Although his family begged him to
stay, John said "l sow, and someday I'll reap treasures in heaven, apples ofgold" as he
turned to leave.
As the years went on, John left many apple seeds to sprout and grow into trees all
over Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New York and other places. He had now become
known as Johnny Appleseed, and everybody looked forward to his coming to give the
news, tell his stories, and sell his apple saplings, which the rich and poor alike looked
forward to planting in their orchards. Soon Johnny, an old man now, sought the home
of William Worth, on the St. Joseph River. There was an old Indian hut, long
abandoned, in which Johnny had often slept. He built a fire, and in his old wet
clothing, sank down on the ancient hearthstone, grateful, but sick. He had contacted
pneumonia. Johnny had no cozy bed, no linen sheets, no cool pillow under his burning
cheeks, no white bed gown. A neighbor came in once in a while to give him a cup of
water or broth. But Johnny Appleseed was a tough fiber...he lingered. In his rational
moments, he fretted about his seventeen thousand trees and his land of almost three
hundred acres in Allen and Jay counties. "The old man died last night," William
Worth informed the neighbors. Four days later, on March 22, 1845,the Fort ll/ayne
Sentinel printed the following notice:
" Dies...in this neighborhood, at an advanced age, Mr. John Chapman (better
known as Johnny Appleseed). The deceased was well known throughout this
region by his eccentricity, and he denied himself almost the common necessities of
life-not so much perhaps from avarice, as from his peculiar notions on religious
subjects...he submitted to every privation with cheerfulness and content, believing
that in so doing, he was securing snug quarters hereafter. He always carried with
him some work on the doctrines Swedenbrough (Swedenborg) and would readily
converse and argue on his tenets, using much shrewdness and penetration. He was
seen on our streets a day or two previous. His death was quite sudden."
The people mourned...Johnny Appleseed was their own saint. A memorial was
held the following May, on the 300 acres. A bridge was dedicated and the Johnny
Appleseed Memorial Park, near Fort Wayne, was created. In Leominster,
Johnny's birthplace, an apple festival is held annually, and on the Chapman home
place is placed a monument in his honor. Throughout the land are orchards and
parks, all lovingly laid out and planted in Johnny's honor. It is claimed that the last
remaining tree of Johnny's planting is in Ashland County.
So, not being able to plant an apple tree that would thrive because ofour alkali
soil here in San Antonio, I will place apple buttons on a card and dedicate them to
Johnny Appleseed.
Editor's Note: Putting together a tray of apples might prove to be more of a challenge
than you might think. In Div. I buttons I could find only five-the black glass apple
with the arrow through it; two brass buttons with a steel escutcheon of an apple; Fanny
Davenport holding an apple; and one brass button on which several pieces offruit are
combined, including an apple. Of course, there are numerous realistics in the modern
buttons, but I seriously doubt that a regulation tray could be made. Can any of our
readers prove me wrong? I hope so!