Johnny Appleseed

In Fort Wayne, Indiana, we stayed at the Johnny Appleseed Campground, next to the grave of the beloved John Chapman, aka “Johnny Appleseed” (1774-1845).

Johnny Appleseed traveled by foot (often barefoot, no less!) all over the frontier of the young United States. He developed nurseries of crab apples, which grew into orchards.

Crab apples are not meant to be eaten raw, unlike the apples we get at the grocery store today. Rather, they were key in making hard apple cider, an alcoholic beverage. The alcohol in hard apple cider kills harmful bacteria, which were prevalent in pioneer America. Even children drank diluted versions of it.

Johnny Appleseed was also known for being a kind and devout man who was gentle towards all animals and liked by all who knew him.

His gravesite, surrounded by crab apple trees, is so lovely, a fitting resting place for such a uniquely American man.