Johnny Appleseed

        It was interesting to learn that Johnny Appleseed’s story is not just folklore. Johnny Chapman, his real name, was born in 1775 in Massachusetts. He had orchards in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Ohio. He was passionate about planting apple trees, just like in the children’s stories we know. He really went around the country planting apple trees especially in the Midwestern wilderness. According to American History’s article Chapman brought bushels of apple seed from Pennsylvania to Ohio. They add that he later acquired land in Indiana where he continued to plant more trees. The article says that Chapman was a good, generous man, who loved the wilderness, was a devoted Christian, in harmony with the natives, the environment and everyone around him.