WHO IS THIS NURSERY MAN?

On September 26, 1774, John Chapman was born in Leominster, MA and died from pneumonia, at 71 years of age in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He worked as an apprentice for an orchard grower named Mr. Crawford and became a leader in conservation and was recognized for the value he placed on apples. He became known as a pioneer nurseryman and conservationist. His boss had a large apple orchard and this is believed to have been the inspiration for him going on a journey to plant apple trees. When he turned 18, he convinced his brother, who was 11 at the time, to go west and travel with him. The two brothers led a nomadic life moving from place to place and finding work before moving to a new location. Chapman was known for having a threadbare wardrobe. This usually did not include shoes, but it did include him having a tinpot he used for a hat as well as cooking. Soon thereafter his brother opted out and returned home.

Some believe that he planted apple trees in a random fashion but everything he did was actually based on providing an economic benefit. He would travel around and establish apple nurseries with plants from Mr. Crawford’s nursery. He didn't randomly spread apple seeds, he worked to carefully plant apple nurseries rather than apple orchards. He built fences around them to protect the plants from livestock. The nurseries were left to be cared for by neighbors who would eventually be able to sell some of the trees as payment for their time.

Chapman would travel and tell stories to children as well as preach the gospel. He would also preach at churches. He was often provided with meals as well as a floor to sleep on for the night. The apple trees he planted served various purposes. Most of them were not grown to provide edible fruit but the small, tart apples grown in his orchards were used to make hard apple cider, which was also referred to as applejack. His apple orchards also served a legal purpose. They established his claim to the land where they were planted. Toward the end of his life, Chapman owned approximately 1,200 acres of land that was considered quite valuable. John Chapman's image became that of Johnny Appleseed. Towards the end of his life, he was an obsessive vegetarian. He didn't believe in marriage, as he felt he would ultimately be rewarded in the afterlife for following a path of abstinence and he would find his soulmate in heaven.

Submitted by ~

Laura Miller

History & Awards