Who's Johnny Appleseed?

Who's Johnny Appleseed?. . , The Folk Legend Started Right Here in North Central Massachusetts, The popular image of Folk Legend Johnny Appleseed that comes to mind is of an eccentric fellow dressed in rag-tag clothes with a stewpot for a hat who spread apple seeds randomly everywhere he went. But the real Johnny Appleseed was actually a businessman who helped many pioneers survive and new communities flourish., Johnny Appleseed was born in Leominster, Massachusetts, on September 26, 1774. His real name was John Chapman. He was the second child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Chapman. His birthplace is marked by a granite marker not far from here on a street called Johnny Appleseed Lane., His father was one of the Minutemen who fought at Concord on April 19, 1775, and later in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War., John Chapman made a name for himself across a growing nation. While a child, his family moved from Leominster to Western Massachusetts. In his late teens, he began a westward trek to Pennsylvania and the Ohio Valley., While traveling, he planted apple seeds-not by simply scattering them carelessly, but with an eye toward a future market for his crops. He sold and often gave away seeds and seedlings to settlers in communities along the way., In order to assure stability of the newly established homesteads during that time, a law required each settler to plant fifty trees to claim ownership. Because of poor transportation that existed at the time, apples were a practical necessity in the early settlers' diets., John Chapman spread religion as well as apples. A deeply religious man, he became a self-appointed missionary and shared his beliefs with the settlers who would listen to him. He also led a very minimalist lifestyle and was passionate about conservation and nature. His commitment of "loving thy neighbor" made him a peacemaker accepted between the indigenous tribes and settlers., His nearly 50 years of travels took him far and wide across a young nation. Over the years, he planted numerous orchards. An astute businessman, John Chapman had acquired a great deal of real estate, and despite his simple lifestyle, was actually a wealthy man by the time he died on March 22, 1845, in Fort Wayne, Indiana., The Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center officially opened on June 14, 1997, in honor of American pioneer and local folk legend Johnny Appleseed as a way to welcome travelers and promote the twenty-seven communities in North Central Massachusetts. The visitor center hosts a growing collection of unique historical and cultural items to showcase the region's agricultural and manufacturing history and help to promote the region' attractions. The Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center is operated by the Johnny Appleseed Trail Association, which operates under the name Visit North Central Massachusetts, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization focused on promoting North Central Massachusetts., The bronze sculpture of the young Johnny Appleseed that greets visitors outside the doors of the Johnny Appleseed Visitors Center was created by Phil Cote, a local sculptor and artist. The popular and iconic attraction was officially unveiled on September 8, 2000. An identical bronze sculpture greets students outside the Johnny Appleseed Elementary School in Leominster. Funds for the statue were raised by local businesses and the community., In 1966, the U.S. Postal Service issued a 5-cent stamp commemorating Johnny Appleseed. On August 2, 1996, Johnny Appleseed was designated by the state legislature as the official folk hero of Massachusetts.