Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed’s real name was John Chapman. He earned his nickname by planting thousands of apple seeds across the Midwest. For this, he became a legend in his own lifetime.

Johnny was born in Massachusetts in 1774. In his teens, he learned how to grow apples. Later on, he put that knowledge to work. Settlers were going west. Johnny knew they needed fruit. So he went west, too, with a bag of apple seeds. But he didn’t just scatter seeds anywhere. He cleared land and planted apple orchards. His first orchard was in Pennyslvania. Later, he had orchards in Ohio and Indiana.

As he traveled, he visited settlers’ cabins. He sold them apple seeds and seedlings. People looked forward to his visits. He brought news of other places. He told stories about his adventures.

Johnny was an unusual man. He never built a house. He liked to live in the woods. He wore shirts made out of old coffee sacks. He never wore shoes. Some say he wore a pot on his head!

Today, he is still part of our world. There are books and songs about him. There is a Johnny Appleseed museum in Ohio. In Indiana, there is a park named for him. Johnny Appleseed’s legend lives on.
Johnny Appleseed died on March 18 1845
Johnny Appleseed died when he was 70 years old.
There’s a song about him.