Today I’m featuring an American hero who never married or had children, yet imprinted colonial America and blessed and literally fed many frontier families—John Chapman aka Johnny Appleseed
Born in Massachusetts in 1774, John Chapman saw apple seeds going to waste when the ripe fruits were pressed for cider. Johnny began gathering those seeds and grew them into seedlings planted free of charge wherever he thought pioneers would come, settle, and appreciate fruit trees. He started in Pennsylvania in 1798 and worked his way west through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ontario, and the northern parts of West Virginia until he died at age 70 in Fort Wayne, Indiana doing the same thing. He was received into homes, and some called him a missionary-nurseryman. He lived at peace with nature and interacted with Indian tribes. He is said to have worn a steel cooking pot on his head as a practical hat. His entire story inspired me so much I went to one school Halloween party dressed as Johnny. Besides, I grew up in Washington, the “apple” state.
The next time you eat an apple, take a moment to express thanks for this man with the foresight to make the wilderness a fruitful place for those who followed after him and settled.
What can any one man or woman do? Quite a lot actually if he/she has an inspired vision of what can be established in any untouched wilderness. Whether or not John Chapman is linked to the literal apple orchards where you live, he’s a fine example of someone who foresaw what could become fruitful lands and gave his life energy to make his vision happen.
What energy will you invest to make positive change happen? MUCH can be done if we each do our part! I can’t wait to see the results!
Who else do you honor as someone who blessed and made things better for those who followed after them?
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