The Grave of Johnny Appleseed

My mom and dad are currently on a cross-country trip and have been generous enough to share some awesome photos of their adventures with us kids! This post was inspired by a recent stop they made in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where the legendary Johnny Appleseed is buried (yes, he was a real person!) These photos are theirs! Thanks Mom and Dad!
 
In elementary school or at some point while growing up, you probably heard stories about a man named Johnny Appleseed. You probably remember learning that he was the one who planted all the apple trees in America, never wore shoes, and always wore a kitchen pan as a hat (tell me I’m not the only one who believed this!)
 
In actuality, the legend of Johnny Appleseed (born John Chapman in 1774) that we all know is not very far from the truth. He was a simple man who lived a simple life, but the image of him walking from town to town dropping apple seeds everywhere he went is not entirely accurate. John Chapman was a professional “nursery man,” and he knew what he was doing when it came to planting seeds.
 
He made his way across the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, carefully taking his time to plant and curate his apple orchards wherever he stopped. He was very interested in not only planting aspects but also in long-term conservation. He was a man of God, became a missionary and spread the Gospel message to anyone who would listen, including Native Americans. Animals held a special place in his heart; it was said that he would go out of his way to avoid harming even a mosquito. He eventually stopped eating meat. He never married, and was widely known as a very kind and generous man who would help anyone in need. Upon meeting someone, he was known to exclaim, “I have good news from heaven!” His tombstone reads, “He lived for others.”
 
Johnny Appleseed died in 1845.
 
Mom and Dad located his grave while visiting Johnny Appleseed Park in Fort Wayne, and snapped these pictures:

A closeup of the stone:

(Note- While it’s widely held that this is Johnny Appleseed’s final resting place, it is worth noting that some would disagree. See https://travelinspiredliving.com/gravesite-of-johnny-appleseed/)
 
-Aubrey