#301 Planting Seeds

 Fun Fact #301

Planting Seeds

In 1800, a man by the name of John Chapman wanted to become a missionary but had no way to support himself. At least until he decided to set up an Apple Tree Nursery to grow trees he could sell. Over time his nurseries across three states would have over  over 12,000 acres, and he always carried extra seeds with him on his travels to plant so he might eat their fruit later when he would return to visit the churches he planted. Today those seeds were the start of orchards in 5 states (PA, OH, KY, IN, IL) including several near Rockford Illinois. 

Today Chapman is remembered as Johnny Appleseed and his story as one of the first successful businessmen of the Midwest would be one of the inspirations later cited for Apple’s Logo. 

Image from: Howe’s Historical Collection