The Elusive Johnny Appleseed... of Longmeadow

Harper's Magazine, 1871 This article is widely believed to be the source of much of the myth of Johnny Appleseed.

Is it true? Was he really from here? Or is it just part of local folklore? It is often mentioned that Johnny Appleseed lived in Longmeadow. His story is frequently included in 3rd grade curriculum in the Longmeadow schools. But … really? After combing through our boxes, shelves, folders and files in the archives of The Longmeadow Historical Society at the Storrs House Museum, it is fair to say …

Yes! he has been found - in a shopkeeper’s daybook as a young boy receiving a delivery of rum and sugar for his father in 1781. At the time of this daybook entry by a town shopkeeper, Johnny Chapman would have been approximately 7 years old. As Capt. Nathaniel Chapman's only boy at that time, this must indeed be little Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman.

1781: "Capt. Nat. Chapman (debit) to 1 pint Rum/ 1 Sugar/ delivered your boy" Hale Daybooks/ Longmeadow Historical Society

In brief, Johnny Appleseed was born John Chapman in Leominster, MA in September, 1774 - just months before the famous “shot heard round the world” formally began the American Revolution. His father was a minuteman. Young Johnny’s mother died two years later from complications due to childbirth. That baby died as well. Capt. Nathaniel Chapman began service at the new Springfield Arsenal soon after, presumably leaving his young son and an older daughter behind to be cared for by his deceased wife’s family.

In July of 1780, Capt Chapman took a Longmeadow bride, 18 year old Lucy Cooley. Soon after, Capt. Chapman was relieved of his duties at the Springfield Arsenal and settled into life in this town. A big question has always been whether his son, Johnny, ever joined him out here in Longmeadow. The above daybook entry appears to confirm he did. The scant records available indicate that the Chapmans were never wealthy, and what they lacked in quantity of land or money, they made up for in quantity of children - 10 were born between 1781 and 1803. Certainly this made lean times even leaner for young Johnny Appleseed’s family. Recently uncovered Longmeadow records seem to indicate that Capt. Chapman served time in a debtor’s prison as well in 1785.

Account Books from Col. Jonathan Hale, Esq., a Longmeadow selectman and shopkeeper, record many visits to his store from Capt. Nathaniel Chapman where he purchased items like rum (no, not cider), sugar, molasses, coffee, tobacco, turnips, salt and nails . Chapman generally appeared to pay for these goods through bartered labor. Tax records indicate that Capt. Chapman was a man of so few means that there was almost nothing to tax for him. He owned no property and the house the family reportedly occupied was an old, old house on Cooley land owned by his wife’s family.

Capt. Nath Chapman's purchases from Hale Ledger, Longmeadow Historical Society

Capt. Nath. Chapman's Credits Hale Ledger, Longmeadow Historical Society

Regarding a stint in debtor’s prison, that evidence comes from these same account books. One particularly telling entry from 1785 indicates that Capt. Chapman solicited help from the same Col. Hale who sold him rum, sugar and various other “sundries” by asking him for his services for “Drawing & aproving [sic] Bond for Liberty of the yard." This special privilege of fresh air and time outside came at a cost, placing him further in debt to his neighbors. Johnny Chapman would have been about 11 years old at the time. What would this have meant for him as the oldest child in a small house with a growing number of little siblings? Surely these experiences in his formative years impacted him as he grew.

It is believed the Chapman’s settled into a small house built c.1695 on land owned by Lucy’s family. While today the house still sits on Fairfield Terrace, at the time the Chapman’s lived there it was believed to have been somewhere about 2 miles south of Springfield on the hill leading down towards the meadows and Connecticut River. Drive by it sometime and just try to imagine 13 people - 11 of them children - existing comfortably. Not hard to see why Johnny left for wider pastures.

Johnny Chapman likely lived in Longmeadow from ages 6-16, and maybe even a handful of years beyond that. No one knows for sure when he left his family here behind to start his journey west to begin his life of philanthropic apple seeding. However, it is exciting to know that a figure of such legendary status in American folklore spent his formative years in our midst.

What was life like for Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman in Longmeadow from 1780-1790? Well, that has been quite exciting to piece together. It was a remarkable period of growth and change in our town and nation. Stay tuned for Part Two of Young Johnny Chapman’s Life in Longmeadow coming next week.

Special thanks to Al McKee, Betsy McKee, Beth Hoff, and Dennis Picard for helping to make sense of how much rum was a lot of rum, etc...

Sources:

1. Archives of the Longmeadow Historical Society 2. Haley, W.D., “Johnny Appleseed: A Pioneer Hero”, Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, November, 1871 3. Means, Howard, Johnny Appleseed: The Man, the Myth, the American Story, 2011. 4. Price, Robert M., Johnny Appleseed: Man & Myth, 1954

Contributed by Melissa M. Cybulski, Longmeadow Historical Society Board Member

Originally published May 6, 2021

Stockbridge Indians and Rev. Stephen Williams

Stockbridge Indians and Rev. Stephen Williams

Stockbridge, Massachusetts is the quintessential New England town. Norman Rockwell, who lived and worked in Stockbridge, fostered this image with his idealized visions of everyday American life. As the pandemic subsides, Stockbridge will resume its role as a tourist destination, home to world-class museums and nearby art and music venues. But, how many people know that this beautiful town began as an experimental community to “civilize” and convert indigenous peoples to Christianity? The Mohican people (also known as Mahikan, Housatunnuck, Mohekanew, and/or Muh-he-ka-nuk) spent springs and summers in the Hudson River Valley and autumns and winters around the Housatonic River in western Massachusetts. As European settlers expanded holdings up the Hudson River in New York and westward in Massachusetts,

Mohicans not only lost the right to use their traditional lands but they were decimated by previously unknown diseases. Feeling that, perhaps, the God of the Europeans was more powerful than their traditional spirits, Mohican tribal leaders agreed to be missionized.

Rev. Stephen Williams, the pastor of First Church in Longmeadow, was instrumental in establishing the Stockbridge mission. Starting in May, 1734, he wrote about the mission in his diary over 80 times. Working with Rev. Samuel Hopkins (pastor of the West Springfield church) and Rev. Nehemiah Bull (pastor of the Westfield church), he negotiated with the tribe to set up the mission.

In July, 1734, Rev. Williams traveled to Westfield, where Rev. Bull joined him as they traveled to Wnahktukuk (the Mohican village) to meet with tribal leaders. The tribe gave the ministers a belt of wampum as a token of their assent. Rev. Williams wrote on July 9, “…as good a prospect of Success – as we could hope for…”

On Aug. 12, 1734, Rev. Williams traveled to Boston to report on the July trip. “This day – I began – my journey – to Boston in order to give an account to ye commissioners of what I met with at Housatunnick & the commissioners have voted to send a missionary to ye Indians & have left it with Mr. B[ull] and myself to provide a missionary.” The “commissioners” referenced were on the Commission of the Society for the Promotion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Rev. Williams returned to Longmeadow on August. 22.

Empowered by the commission and not wasting any time, on September 9, 1734, Rev. Williams “went from home to go to New Haven to ye commencement of my special business was to procure – a missionary, to go to Housatunnick & according to ye Good hand of God, upon me, I was so far Succeeded as that I have procured ye ingenious learned & pious Mr. John Sergeant to undertake that service. I praise God for his Smiles on this affair hitherto & pray him, still to Smile upon it.”

John Sergeant

John Sergeant visited Longmeadow in October on his way to his mission and Rev. Williams kept tabs on his progress for many years. From all accounts, John Sergeant was well suited to missionary work and he was respected by the Mohican people. Timothy Woodbridge from West Springfield soon joined the mission as a teacher at the school.

The Mission House (1910-1920 image) John Sergeant’s home is a National Historic Landmark which is now operated as a museum, The Mission House, which you can visit in season. For more information, click here. The English colony and the Mohican tribe agreed to settle four English families in their village, ostensibly to serve as role models on the ways of Christianity and English life. The four settlers, Joseph Woodbridge, Col. Ephraim Williams, Ephraim Brown, and Josiah Jones, were each to receive 400 acres of prime farmland. The English settlers named the town Stockbridge. In August, 1735, tribal leaders met with colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher in Deerfield to ratify the treaty. Rev. Stephen Williams was also at the gathering which he described as “a great Hurliburry indeed”. Over several days, speeches were made and gifts were exchanged, the treaty was signed, and, on the final day, John Sergeant was ordained as a minister. The Commissioners financially supported the Stockbridge mission and Rev. Williams often transferred funds from Boston to Stockbridge. The diary references several of these transactions and Historic Deerfield recently acquired a letter from the commissioners to Rev. Williams concerning this financial support. At several points between 1734 and 1740, Mohican boys came to Longmeadow, living in and being educated in Rev. Williams’s home. With eight Williams children, at least one enslaved woman (Phillis), and several Mohican boys, it must have been a crowded household!

• The first two boys came in Dec. 1734 and another came in February, 1735. At least one returned home in March, 1735. Rev. Williams wrote “I desire they may do well – that they may get good, by coming to us - & be blessings to your nation & friend.” It is not clear when they returned to Stockbridge, but perhaps the boys returned home with Mr. Sergeant in July when he came to visit Longmeadow.

• Two more boys, Isaac and John, came to Longmeadow in December, 1738 and they stayed until at least April, 1739. Rev. Williams wrote of the challenges that these students brought to the household, including illnesses and disgruntled attitudes. Perhaps they returned to Stockbridge with Rev. Williams when he traveled there in August, 1739.

• In January, 1740, three boys arrived; two left in May and the third stayed through at least July.

In the early years of the Stockbridge settlement, Wappinger, Nipmuck, and Tunxis Indians joined the community and all of the indigenous peoples who lived there became known as the “Stockbridge Indians”. Stockbridge Indians were loyal to the English colonists, fighting on the side of the colonists in the French and Indian wars and the Revolutionary War.

As Massachusetts English families moved further west, new settlers flooded into Stockbridge, buying up land promised to the tribe, and excluding the Indians from town government. In 1739, land in a section of Stockbridge (which is now Lenox) was put up for sale and Rev. Williams joined others in buying a piece of property. His diary reflects that on October 23, 1739, “I set out for Stockbridge about our Farm – had a comfortable journey & success in our business – returned home.”

The Stockbridge Indians relocated many times. In 1783, many Stockbridge Indians moved to Oneida lands in central New York and founded New Stockbridge. In 1818, they moved to White River, Indiana, then to Wisconsin. In 1834, members of the Munsee tribe joined them and the tribe is now known as the Stockbridge-Munsee Band. The tribe was relocated several times within Wisconsin, but now has a reservation in Shawano County. You can learn more about them on the tribe's website.

Sources 1. Stephen Williams Diary 2. Stockbridge-Munsee Community website 3. Stockbridge, Past and Present: Or Recordes Of An Old Mission Station (1854) by Electa F. Jones 4.https://collections.dartmouth.edu/occom/html/ctx/placeography/place0225.ocp.html

Contributed by Elizabeth Hoff, LHS Board Member

Originally published April 29, 2021

Epidemics of 100 Years Ago

Past Epidemics in Longmeadow at the Doane Orphanage

The town of Longmeadow has dealt with epidemics before the COVID-19 pandemic changed our daily lives. We now have the advantage of modern medicine and science that helps us to understand diseases, and how to avoid and treat them. A hundred years ago, the doctors taking care of the children and employees at the Doane orphanage didn't have that advantage. The Doane orphanage was created by George and Lucy (Cook) Doane in 1902 at the corner of Longmeadow Street and Forest Glen Road. The orphanage closed in 1930, and the house no longer stands.

Doane Orphanage Paesiello Emerson Collection- Longmeadow Historical Society Archives

Sign from Longmeadow Historical Society collection

Over the years, the orphanage was affected by several pandemics. In 1908, diphtheria caused the house to be put into quarantine. A notice in the newspaper noted that "a thorough examination is being given to find, if possible, the source of the disease." Diphtheria is caused by bacteria, and was once a major cause of illness and death among children, especially the youngest. The fatality case rates for those five years old and under was a terrifying 20%. It is usually spread between people by direct contact or through the air, or by contaminated objects. A vaccine was developed in the 1920's, but not commonly used until the 1930's.

In August of 1913, a typhoid fever epidemic was reported at the Doane orphanage. Typhoid fever is also caused by a bacteria--a type of Salmonella, and is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. Before the advent of antibiotics, typhoid fever had a fatality rate of 10-20%. Dr. Lyman A. Jones of North Adams made an investigation into the outbreak. Knowing the facts about transmission, Dr. Jones checked the water supply and milk supply and declared that were both eliminated as sources of the infection.

Springfield Daily News, Saturday, August 23, 1913

Later in August, the Springfield Union reported that two new cases of typhoid fever associated with the Doane house were found, bringing the total number of cases to 22. Dr. Jones reported on his progress with the investigation, stating that "of the 28 children recently in the orphanage, 22 have typhoid." By September, Dr. Jones made his final report to the state board of health. He systematically explained how he ruled out water, milk and food as sources, concluding that "it seems justifiable to conclude that the infection was introduced through some recently admitted child, or through some child returned from a visit, through some chance visitor or through some employee who was a carrier." While he did not identify a specific source of the infection, he made several recommendations:

Springfield Union, September 25, 1913

The first typhoid fever vaccine available in the U.S. was developed by Army physician Frederick Russell in 1909.

1914 found a new infection at the orphanage--scarlet fever. Also caused by a bacteria, group A streptococcus, it is usually spread by people coughing or sneezing. No vaccine is available, but the infection is usually treatable with antibiotics. Before antibiotics were available, long term complications from scarlet fever could include kidney disease, rheumatic heart disease, and arthritis. (The author's father had scarlet fever as a child and failed his physical exam to be a navy pilot in WWII because of valvular heart disease). At the time of this outbreak in Longmeadow, scarlet fever was a leading cause of death in children. In March of 1914, there were 13 cases of scarlet fever reported among the 32 children at the orphanage. There was much concern, as the children had attended crowded church services shortly before being diagnosed. Strict quarantine was the only available response.

Evening News, San Jose, California, March 26, 1914

Epidemics have been a part of life forever, but thankfully, we have found medicines and technologies to help us prevent and treat these diseases that were so dangerous to our ancestors.

Sources:

1. Genealogybank

2.The Doane Orphanage, May 2009 Town Crier article by Linda Abrams

3. Longmeadow Historical Society collections

Contributed by Betsy McKee, LHS Board Member

Originally published April 22, 2021