Today Is September 26

Today is Johnny Appleseed Day, a day that commemorates the birth of John Chapman, a pioneer nurseryman that was responsible for introducing apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ontario, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman was born in Leominster, Massachusetts on September 26, 1774. His birthplace has a granite marker, and the street is called Johnny Appleseed Lane.

John became a frontier missionary and pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to the Great Lakes area. After collecting apple seeds from cider presses in western Pennsylvania he embarked on a long trek westward, walking barefoot, planting a series of apple nurseries from Pennsylvania to central Ohio and beyond.

He preached the gospel as he traveled, and during his travels he converted many Native Americans, whom he admired.