Johnny Appleseed
I was born in north central Indiana lived there a few years them moved to Massillon, Ohio for some years then ended up in Youngstown. Up until a certain age it seems like every year we talked about Johnny Appleseed in history. Imagine how shocked I was to see this monument in Spring Grove. How the heck did I live in Cincinnati for seven years and not know he was buried here? And how did he end up in Cincinnati? Seems to me he was always cutting back and forth across the northern half of the state. Not only that, just to see the monument itself, I tend to forget these mythological figures of American folklore were living breathing historical people. John Chapman, knowing his real name makes him seem more human.
But no, when I got home and hit wikipedia I found he is buried in Fort Wayne.
Fort Wayne?
That seems even more unlikely than Cincinnati. If anything I would have expected Mansfield, Lima or Massillon.
Even Cleveland where I guess he owned land.
But why a memorial here where there is no evidence he even stepped foot?
comments?
He was a very popular figure to the pioneers. He was a kind and gentle simple person, vegan and bible thumper but the cider from his trees provided liquor. He did not graft so most of his trees produced smaller apples more suited for cider than eating. All modern Apples today are grafted. For more inf a great book is The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan.
ReplyDeleteOne notable account is from the first chapter of The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World by Michael Pollan.[31] Pollan states that since Johnny Appleseed was against grafting, his apples were not of an edible variety and could only be used for cider: "Really, what Johnny Appleseed was doing and the reason he was welcome in every cabin in Ohio and Indiana was he was bringing the gift of alcohol to the frontier. He was our American Dionysus."[32]
HAHAHA why doesn't it surprise me that everything comes back to alcohol?
ReplyDeleteThey glossed over that in 2nd grade Ohio history class.
I agree with everything you said, but still wonder why a monument in Spring Grove, in Cincinnati?
I'll have to ask next time I'm there.
Also interesting how everyone except John Chapman made money off the orchards he planted.
A businessman he wasn't.
Looks like Phil Nuxhall is your guy
ReplyDeletehttp://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/springgrove0227.aspx