How did a young John Chapman, a farmer’s son of small means, get enough apple seeds to cover the American frontier? He asked for them. Chapman obtained free seeds from cider mills, convincing owners that more apple trees planted meant more apples that needed…milling. The familiar legend has him spraying apple seeds around the wilderness at random. In reality he would create fenced-in nurseries, planting in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Here’s Joseph Boley, with an orchestra conducted by Al Rickey.
What did Johnny Appleseed have in common with master violinist Nicolo Paganini? They both are thought to have had Marfan Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. Some side effects include longer limbs… long legs could have helped Johnny stride the countryside. How’d it affect Paganini? Click right here to find out!