Birthday of Appleseed

Appleseed (Johnny), Birthday of

September 26

John Chapman—better known as Johnny Appleseed for his lifelong dedication to planting apple seedlings all over the American Midwest—was born on this day in 1774. While some frontier settlers thought he was a saint, or at the very least a religious fanatic, with his tin pot hat and coffee-sack tunic, the Indians regarded him as a great medicine man since he planted herbs as well as apples.
Since 1962 Johnny Appleseed's birthday has been observed in his hometown of Leominster, Massachusetts, on the first Saturday in June as Johnny Appleseed Civic Day . There is usually a ceremony at the monument that marks the site of Chapman's birthplace. In 1966 the day was celebrated with a ceremony marking the issue of a commemorative stamp bearing an image of the pioneer horticulturalist. His birthday is also honored in Ashland, Ohio, where he lived for more than 25 years, and at harvest festivals in apple-growing regions throughout the United States. In fact, the last week in September has been observed as Johnny Appleseed Week in Ohio since 1941.
See also Johnny Appleseed Festival

CONTACTS:
Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center, Inc.
2179 State Rt. 603
Ashland, OH 44805
800-642-0388; fax: 419-368-8369
www.jahci.org
Leominster City Hall
25 West St.
Leominster, MA 01453
978-534-7500
www.leominster-ma.gov

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 673
BkHolWrld-1986, Sep 26
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 555

Celebration day: Sep 26