Show johnny Appl eseed earned name nam e johnny Appl eseed is the name applied to john chapman a native of massachusetts who came to ohio about 1801 and earned that name for himself from his peculiar occupation his itinerant distribution of young apple trees it was his custom to clear loamy spots in the virgin forests on the banks of streams plant there the apple seeds he had obtained at cider presses in western pennsylvania the ground and then leave the place until the trees began to grow when settlers appeared in the vicinity johnny brought them his young trees to trade them for an old coat or a knife but his needs were few and he often gave away his trees or left his little orchards to grow up uri undisturbed disturbed all over the countryside through western pennsylvania ohio and indiana johnnys little apple nurseries were located |