The American colonies, with an expanding frontier, offered a congenial home to many “characters”, some of whose eccentricities are captured in historical accounts and embroidered in legends.

One of the greatest American characters of the early United States is Johnny Appleseed.

Born John Chapman in Massachusetts (1774), Johnny left home at 18, apprenticed himself to a nurseryman, but soon struck out on his own.

Unlike the myths in which he scattered apple seeds wherever he roamed, Chapman actually entered into partnerships with frontier settlers to plant orchards in which he would share the produce or proceeds.

One of Chapman’s first orchard projects was near the town of Warren in northwest Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania, Ohio, northern Virginia (what is now West Virginia) were covered in hardwood forests and there were no orchards.

Johnny Appleseed planted thousands of apple trees as he traveled these states and followed settlers into Indiana, then the “Northwest Territory”.

(In 2019, a tree planted by Johnny Appleseed was still alive in a small Ohio town – although portions of the tree were dead and the tree had structural supports. This long-lived tree had been planted over an aquifer; the tree still bore apples.)

There are many colorful stories of Chapman’s adventures. The common elements in many of these tales have historical evidence.

Chapman did travel enormous distances on foot; he had numerous “narrow escapes” from misfortune or death; he usually walked barefooted.

A devout Swedenborgian ( the “New Church” founded upon the esoteric revelations given to Emmanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish scientist and theologian, formerly Lutheran), Chapman also proselytized for the new faith as he traveled.

Chapman died in 1845 and was buried in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

This postcard photograph, probably made in the late 1930’s, shows the preserved grave site of “Johnny Appleseed”.

The postcard was not mailed. It was published by the Summit City News Agency of Fort Wayne.