Johnny Appleseed Historical Marker

John Chapman, better known as "Johnny Appleseed", was an American folk hero who lived from 1774 - 1845. He gained fame by traveling the United States on foot for many years, sowing apple orchards along the way. It is estimated that he single-handedly planted over 2,000 acres of apple trees from the East Coast to the Midwest throughout his lifetime. While popular myth has obscured the historical figure, two traits remain constant in both: John's great physical endurance, and his encompassing compassion for others.

John Chapman was born in Massachusetts in September of 1774. His father, Nathaniel Chapman, encouraged his son to become an orchardist. While the exact date is unknown, once John was an adult he struck out into the wilderness after planting cider apples alongside Pennsylvania’s stretch of the Allegheny River. By the age of 38, John was well-established as "Johnny Appleseed". During to his long-ranging life he planted over 2,000 acres of apple trees from Pennsylvania to Illinois and Iowa.

Despite popular depictions of Johnny Appleseed carrying many different varieties of his namesake fruit, he planted cider apples almost exclusively. While not suited for eating or baking, cider apples were nevertheless a precious resource to pioneers. With no reliable way to filter the water they encountered, adventurous frontiersmen and women relied on drinks such as cider and other fruit juices to keep hydrated. It didn’t hurt that the apples could be fermented to produce an alcoholic version of the cider as well. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Johnny Appleseed was welcomed with open arms wherever he went.

However, it must be admitted that his efforts were not purely altruistic. Planting an orchard was a type of land claim during his lifetime. Chapman would often return to his apple groves years afterwards to sell them for a profit. On the other hand, he wasn’t a money-hungry pragmatist, either – he sold seedlings for less than a dime (about $2.40 today), and often accepted barter in place of cash. This could possibly explain his signature attire: barefooted, wearing a grain sack as a shirt and a tin bowl as a hat.

Even after his death in 1845 his popularity continued, though his image warped. Modern interpretations often portray him as completely altruistic and otherwise unremarkable. In real life, Chapman was a known eccentric. He had a deep love and respect for animals, using part of his income to buy mistreated horses and move them to kinder owners. It’s even said he rescued a wild wolf from a trap, then nursed it back to health. Not even insects were exempt from his consideration, as he would douse his fire to protect mosquitoes from burning in the flames.

His religious views were also changed to reflect modern values. Chapman was an avid follower of Emanuel Swedenborg, a mystic, doctor, and philosopher who claimed to regularly visit Heaven and Hell. Chapman credited his decisions to never marry, never eat meat, and do no harm to man or beast to his religious beliefs. While these and other details of his life have been skewed or lost to time, one thing remains unchanged: John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman made an indelible mark on American history as a prolific orchardist and nurseryman. 

“Johnny Appleseed.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 20 Aug. 2019, www.biography.com/historical-figure/johnny-appleseed.

Kettler, Sara. “7 Facts About Johnny Appleseed.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 11 June 2020, www.biography.com/news/johnny-appleseed-story-facts?li_source=LI&li_medium=bio-mid-article&li_pl=208&li_tr=bio-mid-article.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica . “Was Johnny Appleseed a Real Person?” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2020, www.britannica.com/story/was-johnny-appleseed-a-real-person.