John “Johnny Appleseed” Chapman

Apples growing in many parts of the United States would not have been a common sight if it wasn’t for John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. He gained the surname Appleseed because he has been credited for introducing apple trees to various settlements, including those in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, and even in Ontario, Canada.

He was a nurseryman born in 1774 who became a leader in environmental conservation and a folk hero. Chapman was a legend even in his time as he famously planted apple seeds on foot. Those who knew him in life also remembered him for his kind heart. Chapman passed away in 1845.