Johnny Appleseed

painting by Steve Sjogren.

Johnny Appleseed

“Millions saw the apple fall, but it was Newton

who asked why.”--Bernard Baruch.

John Chapman was born during the Revolutionary

War in 1774, and he died in 1845 before America

erupted into the Civil War. His mother died when

he was a toddler. He didn’t meet his father until 

1780, after the war. He was a strange child, always

the loner, who spent the bulk of his time outdoors.

He talked to animals, and would not kill an insect.

When he was 16, he left home and traveled West.

He began to build a reputation as a nurseryman.

Plants loved him. He had twin green thumbs. He

built nurseries wherever he roamed, leaving others

to run the businesses. He became a man of means,

but he dressed like a hobo, in rags and donated

clothes. He always wore a tin pot for a hat, and

he was nicknamed Johnny Appleseed.

When he was middle-aged he found religion.

He had a great speaking voice, and he became

quite the Orator. He became very eccentric,

often nearly naked, always sleeping outside

in the elements. He lived several times with

tribes of Native Americans.

Johnny travelled far

and wide, spreading appleseeds and

orchards, faith and joy.

Glenn Buttkus

Posted over at d'Verse Poets Pub