His name was Jonathan Chapman, and he was also commonly known as Johnny Appleseed. John was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to large parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.
Every year, since the early 70's the citizens of of Fort Wayne host visitors from throughout the nation and the world to celebrate the pioneer spirit of John Chapman, better known as "Johnny Appleseed," Mr. Chapman was said to be a colorful character of the Indiana frontier in the early 1800's.
During the latter part of his life, John Chapman traveled throughout the countryside walking and planting apple orchards in Fort Wayne and the surrounding areas. In the process, he became a national folk hero.
Jonathan Chapman, AKA Johnny Appleseed grave-site is memorial area in Fort Wayne's Archer Park. It has been designated a National Historic Place and is identified as such on the National Register of Historic Places.
This year, Hoosiers from Fort Wayne hosted thousands of visitors from all over the globe who enjoyed the hundreds of exhibits, including live performances, food, arts and crafts.
For additional information on Johhny Appleseed, contact Joe D. Besecker, Director of Johnny Appleseed Society at Urbana Uninersity
http://www.urbana.edu/resources/community/johnny-appleseed.html
jbesecker@urbana.edu
Photography: Courtesy AJ. Alamillo
Johnny Appleseed was vegetarian. Serving meat at a Johnny Appleseed festival honoring the man is tantamount to having segregated toilets at a Martin Luther King Jr rally. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKr4HZ7ukSE and http://www.veganvideo.org