This week (in this post and my next one later this week) I am going to introduce you to a few American legends.

Today, I have a story and history lesson for you about, Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed was a real man who made a difference in America when it was a new country.  The legend of John Appleseed has been taught to generations of Americans and now I’ll teach it to you.

The legend of Johnny Appleseed:
Johnny Appleseed was a kind man who traveled around America with nothing but the clothes on his back, a cooking pot on his head, and hands full of apple seeds. He threw apple seeds wherever he went, so that apple trees would grow up behind him and produce apples for others to eat.

The true story of Johnny Appleseed:
Part of this story is true and part of it is made up. There was a real man named Johnny Appleseed, although his true name was John Chapman. John Chapman was a nurseryman, or man who grew fruit trees. He also was a traveler and it is true that as he traveled around the United States, but mostly in the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and West Virginia, not the whole country.  These states are where he grew apple trees. But he didn’t just throw seeds on the ground as he walked, hoping they would grow. He actually planted small nurseries (or tree farms), where young apple trees grew protected from animals.  He owned the trees that he grew and sold their apples.  He employed other people to take care of the trees he planted as he traveled around planting more nurseries and growing more apples.

One of the reasons John Chapman became well known, and called Johnny Appleseed, was because he was a kind and generous man. He met a lot of people as he moved to new places, planting trees, and he earned a reputation as a good and honest person. He also lived a simple life. He was humble and was reported to wear simple clothes. Johnny Appleseed died at the age of 70. He spent 50 years of his life growing apple trees in America so that people could enjoy apples, and also apple cider (a common apple drink). This is why he has become an American legend – his life is one of selfless actions and his desire to share and care for others.

Is there a legendary figure, like Johnny Appleseed, in your country? Please share about him or her in the comment box below.