Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed is known for spreading seeds, but few know he also spread his faith.

Trish Lindsay of Sarver has been working with author Ray Silverman to research the history of Johnny “Appleseed” Chapman.

Chapman lived from 1774 to 1845 and planted apple orchards in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

“It’s a matter of true history and having history relayed correctly,” said Lindsay.

Sliverman’s new book, “The Core of Johnny Appleseed: The Unknown Story of a Spiritual Trailblazer” explains that Johnny Appleseed was a Swedenborg missionary.

Adherents follow the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, who was a Swedish scientist, philosopher and theologian in the 1700s.

“There are so many misconceptions about Johnny Appleseed,” Lindsay said. “Some people think he is a myth.”

Lindsay is a member of The Sowers Chapel of the New Church in Sarver, which is a Christian church that follows Swedenborg’s teachings.

Silverman is an associate professor of religion, English and moral philosophy at Bryn Athyn College in Bryn Athyn, Montgomery County, and an adjunct instructor at Urbana University in Urbana, Ohio.

Silverman was a minister in the Pittsburgh New Church and taught Lindsay’s children.

He discussed the research with her two years ago, and they have been finalizing and proofing the book for the past six months.

According to Lindsay, when settlers purchased land the law of the time said they had three years to plant an apple orchard.

“The apples were not just for the fruit, but for the vinegar so the settlers could preserve the other garden foods,” Lindsay said.

Chapman would buy land, start an orchard, then sell the orchard back to the settlers.

He would use the money from the sale to purchase books, which he lent to settlers door to door.

One Emanuel Swedenborg book, in particular, he would lend is “Heaven and Hell.”

Lindsay said, “He would take that book and he would go from cabin to cabin saying, ‘Fresh news from heaven.’”

To learn more about Chapman or to purchase Silverman’s book, contact the Swedenborg Foundation Press at www.swedenborg.com, at 610-430-3222 or e-mail info@swedenborg.com.