The Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology maintains a cemetery registry as part of its State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD). This week, we are highlighting some cemeteries throughout the state known for their famous “residents.”
Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park (Allen County)
John Chapman (1774-1845), aka, Johnny Appleseed was a pioneer-era nurseryman who settled in Fort Wayne, Allen County. His gravesite is located within the Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park atop a natural mound along with remaining stones from the former David Archer Family Cemetery.
The park and gravesite are both surveyed as Outstanding-rated resources [ 2014] within the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory (IHSSI 003-214-18409 & 003-214-18417). The Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NR-2073). [ January 17, 1973 National Register Historic Places ]
3 stones
Statement of Significance: Grave site of John Chapman, aka, Johnny Appleseed, pioneer-era nurseryman who settled on this site and is buried here.
Architectural Description: The gravesite is located in a 12 acre tract of land including the Archer Cemetery (2 stones remain), which was given to Allen County in 1947 by WM. and Ruth McKay.
The two remaining stones from the David Archer cemetery are dated from the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s.
This Google map photo from Street View showing the Johnny Appleseed Memorial Bridge facing east towards the Purdue Fort Wayne University campus is similar to the location of the 1950s-1960s photos discussed below. The roads on either side of Colisuem Boulevard have been slightly realigned since those photos were taken.
"Plan prepared for & by request of Men's Garden Clubs of American, Inc. and Johnny Appleseed National Memorial Foundation, Inc., June-Nov. 1960."
"Scale: 1" = 10'."
Brown ink on parchment
"50 apple trees, one for each of our 50 states ... varieties to be selected are to represent, as indicated, the apple trees varieties known to exist in the times of John Chapman (1774-1845). See general plan prepared by Hrand Hampikian, L. Arch't., Jan-Aprl. 1954."
This is a Google Earth Aerial of the grave area. Many people were never aware that the Yew's lining each side of the grave were designed to spell the letters "J" and "C". Due to the years, they don't quite look like it. We are going to fix that.
There are multiple REAL graves on the south side of the hill. Several are completely covered by years of mulch and bush overgrowth. It's our hope to uncover them and make them visible once again.
2022, May 30 - on the Jeopardy television show: Fort Wayne is home to the grave of this legendary orchard planter posted by Wesley's TV on Facebook. See Johnny Appleseed. Posted as Tonight on Jeopardy on Reddit.
Where is John Chapman aka Johnny Appleseed really buried?
Grave of John Chapman ("Johnnie Appleseed") — -The surviving members of the Archer family are authority for the statement that the body of John (Chapman ("Johnnie Appleseed"), one of the most unique figures in pioneer history, lies buried in the little private graveyard known as the Archer cemetery. This little burial spot is located on the high ground overlooking the feeder canal and the Robison park car line, about three rods west of stop 3. It is visible from the Robison park cars, and visitors should take cars to Stop 3. The name of "Johnnie Appleseed" is known to thousands of school children throughout America. Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, the eminent New York divine, built his novel, "The Quest of John Chapman," around the life of this remarkable man, and the story is a familiar one. He is known as "The Patron Saint of American Orchards." In 1801, John Chapman, then 26 years of age, appeared with a canoe laden with appleseeds procured from the cider mills of western Pennsylvania where he lived, and planted an orchard in what is now Licking county, Ohio. This was the beginning of a life devoted to the placing of orchards throughout the wilderness of the territory of Ohio and a section of northeastern Indiana. During the war of 1812, he proved of great help to the settlers; the Indians believed him to be a great medicine man and did not molest him. He was a devout man and spread the Gospel throughout the region which he visited. He dressed in skins. He died in Ft. Wayne, in 1847, aged 72. [ his estate death notice was in the April 19, 1845 Weekly Sentinel newspaper ]
The photo above is from the July 8, 1923 The Journal Gazette newspaper. It states: Members of the Indiana Historical and Pioneer societies during their recent two-days pilgrimage in Fort Wayne, did not fail to give honor to the memory of Johnny Appleseed (John Chapman), who in the early pioneers days traveled through the wilderness providing settlers with appleseeds. Chapman died at the farm home of William Worth in 1843 and lies buried in the old Archer cemetery, three miles north of the city, on the Robison park line.
Some claim when he died along the Saint Joseph River that he was buried on Henry Cassell's land now the 9th hole of the Canterbury Green Golf Course. There is some controversy and vagueness concerning the date of his death and his burial. From Johnny Appleseed on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
The blueprint map on the right noting the location of Johnny Appleseed's cabin and the area around his cabin was prepared by A.K. Hofer, C.E., Fort Wayne, for the Three Rivers Forum July 1937 and is from Location Map of Johnny Appleseed Cabin and Vicinity on the Indiana Memory digital library at IN.gov linked to the original map at the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network. You can zoom and move around on their scrollable map. A discussion of this map occurred June 28, 2017 on the original Great Memories and History of Fort Wayne, Indiana page on Facebook. The Transcript states: Location Map of Johnny Appleseed Cabin and Vicinity for the Three Rivers Forum. H.A.S. Levering, Pres., Fred A. Ball, Sec. Prepared by A.K. Hofer, C.E., Fort Wayne, July 1937. St. Joe River, Wooded, Worth's Cabin where Appleseed died, Ko chis ah (sepe) (Bean River Trail), Farm Buildings, Orchard, Spring and Strater cabins, Reservoir, Orchard, Kocisa Me-ar-we Trail, White Setter's Trail, Johnny Appleseed Squatter's Cabin, Farm Buildings, Old Orchard, Old Saw Mill, State Cemetery. Note: At left are shown in enlarged scale the locations of historic trails and cabins on W.S. Robuck [Roebuck] Farm. Legend: Point where stone bust was unearthed about 1907; 'Worth" on left breast; Burial place of Johnny Appleseed; Indian cabins; Areas in which evidence of burnt stones has been found. Old Paper Mill; Archer cemetery; Wabash & Erie Canal Feeder; St. Joe River, Trails; W.S. Roebuck Farm; Worth's Cabin and Johnny Appleseed Cabin; Old Saw Mill; Old Toll Gate; Indian Mound; Old St. Joe Turnpike; Spy Run; Feeder Canal; Old Apple Orchard;, Kekeonga; Maumee River; L.S. & M. S. R.R. [Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad]; Wabash & Erie Canal now N.Y.C. & St. L. R.R. [New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad]; Pennsylvania R.R.; Wabash R.R.; St. Marys River; The Old Portage. Auburn Road, Leo Road, St. Joe Center Rd., California Road, Coldwater Road, Stellhorn Rd, Old Goshen Plank Road, Wells St., Lima Plank Road, Parnell Ave. Spring St., Sherman St., Spy Run Ave., Delaware, Kentucky Ave., Crescent Ave., Hobson Road, State Blvd., Lake Ave., Main St., Jefferson Street, Lewis St., Maumee Ave., Broadway, Fairfield Ave., Clinton St., Hanna St., Anthony Blvd. City of Fort Wayne, "The Summit City". Scale of map one mile.
Indiana Memory digital library at IN.gov also has Neighborhood During Johnny Appleseed's Sojournings A map, photo, and documents showing and documenting the neighborhood at the time of Johnny Appleseed's death in 1845 which is a 5-page documentin the History Center Digital Collection on the mDON mastodon Digital Object Network. The Transcript states: Map: Map showing neighborhood during Johnny Appleseed's sojournings at the time of his death in the year 1845. W1/2 NW1/4 Sec 24: Adam Pettit, 1845. E1/2 NW1/4 Sec 24: Wm. Bolton, 1845. NE1/4 Sec 24: Henry Johns, 1845. Robert Crawford, 1845. Thos. Hatfield, 1845. 1845. Henry Cassel, 1845. 1845. SW1/4 Sec 24-31-12: William Bolton, 1845. W1/2 SE1/4 Sec. 24: Emanuel Rudisill, 1845. E1/2 SE1/4 Sec 24: Reinhart Gripe, 1845. Taber, 1845. John Spender, 1845. Indian Cabins & J. [Johnny] Appleseed Cabin. Christian Parker, 1845. Emanuel Rudisill, 1845. Eliza Forsythe, 1845. Robert Brackenridge, 1845. Bernard Muldoor, 1845. Old Rudisill Mill. Leo Road; Wabash & Erie Feeder Canal; St. Joe River; Old Trail; Kocisu Me-ar-we; Bean Trail; St. Joe Road; Clinton St.; Anthony Blvd.; State Blvd. Washington Township; Wayne Township; Adams Tp.; St. Joe Township. Scale 4" = 1 mile. Legend: Johnny Appleseed Cabin; Worth's Cabin; Indian Cabins. Prepared by A.K. Hofer, C.E. February 16, 1938.
Steven Fortriede is interviewed in this video: Johnny Appleseed: His Real Name And His Ties To Indiana posted Oct 23, 2015 by WTIU & WFIU - Indiana Public Media on YouTube. At the 3:25 minute mark it says Fortriede says the controversy about his burial location is pretty much settled. What do you know about Johnny Appleseed? The man who planted thousands of apple trees across the Midwest died here in Indiana. Lindsey Wright takes a closer look at his lasting impact.
Check out guest Roadtripper "Johnny Appleseed" aka actor Hank Finken talk about Johnny's gravesite in Johnny Appleseed...
Check out guest Roadtripper "Johnny Appleseed" aka actor Hank Finken talk about Johnny's gravesite in Johnny Appleseed Park in Fort Wayne, and any persistent Appleseed myths. Nelson and Johnny should have fun with this conversation!
August 13, 2022 -Birds of prey in Indiana
Keywords: Red-Tail Hawk, Barn Owl, Peregine Falcon, Bald Eagle, Amos Butler Audubon, Master Falconer, Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana State Fair, Mark Booth (guest). Click here to listen to the podcast.
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM
A six page document Form 10-300 (July 1969) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM for Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park dated January 17, 1973 is at the National Park Service.
A 94 page document received December 12, 1972 posted on the National Archives Catalog web page titled Indiana SP Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park states that Johnny Appleseed was buried in the two acre Archer Cemetery. Local cemetery records show at least 22 pioneers were buried in those two acres, so what happened to their tombstones? The Description, Item 7, on page 2 states:
Page 2 of 94
7. Description
Prior to the 1930's most of the area in Section 25 (See Property Plat Map attached) was practically a wilderness. Within this area to the south lies the Old David Archer cemetery consisting of 2 acres of land, and containing the grave of John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed.
During the 1930's some of the wilderness was cleared from a portion of the cemetery and a narrow gravel road was installed from there to Pamall Avenue. During this period, a granite memorial, surrounded by an iron fence, was erected on the cemetery indicating the dates of the birth and death of this pioneer. [The date of 1930s contradicts many newspaper articles in 1916 stating the granite memorial and iron fence were installed in 1916. ]
During the 1940's, and 1950's, most all of the wilderness and debris was cleared from most of Section 25. The land area comprising 11.34 acres, which included the 2 acre area of the Archer cemetery lying in the approximate center along the old Wabash-Erie canal was then set aside as the Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park Containing the Grave of Johnny Appleseed.
In 1952, the construction, near the intersection of Parnell Avenue and U.S. 30 By-Pass, of the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum was completed. There were no major changes made on the Appleseed property.
In September 1965, the following symbolic items of significance were installed on the Archer cemetery knoll for memorializing Johnny Appleseed:
(a)—Cobblestones were placed around the existing granite memorial to remind the visitor of the rough terrain trans-versed by Johnny Appleseed on his long barefoot journey to Port Wayne.
(b)—A large greensward cross, edged by railroad ties, was laid out at the crest of the cemetery. The cross beam measures 200 feet, the other member extends 250 feet. The cross symbolizes Johnny's mission to spread the Gospel through the wilderness.
(c)—Evergreens were planted in a pattern to form the initials" J. C." meaning John Chapman.
The present physical appearance is very good.
Page 3 of 94
8. SIGNIFICANCE
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
* The book Johnny Appleseed, Man And Myth listed at Item 9 Major Bibliographical. Referrences is the culmination of his research extending over a quarter of a century. The Library Of Congress awarded him a grant-in-aid to finish the book published in 1954.* Man And Myth: " No one had dreamed--------------- -the strange appleseed planter would leap into an amazing public popularity to become one of America’s half dozen favorite folk heroes." end of quote.
Appleseed continues to be one of the best known folk heroes in the Middle West, in fact, nationally. A spot check during five weeks in 1965 indicated visitors to the Johnny Appleseed Grave area as being from 32 States. A new Johnny Appleseed Commemorative postage stamp, the first in folklore series, was issued in 1966.
APPLESEED'S CONNECTION WITH FORT WAYNE
With the headwaters of the Atlantic and Gulf drainages being only four feet apart, the Fort Wayne portage was one of the most famous land links in the Old Northwest. John Chapman( Johnny Appleseed ) started moving in the 1820' s toward this focal point at the Fort Wayne summit. When the first spadeful of earth was turned for the Wabash-Erie canal in 1832, Chapman had extended his enterprises to Fort Wayne,Indiana. For the last twenty years of his life, he was to swing back and forth along this divide and Fort Wayne had now become the western end of the long axis about which the remainder of his life was to revolve.
Chapman purchased four parcels of land in Allen County, Ind., near Fort Wayne. On one parcel, in Milan Township, he established one of the most extensive nursery plantings. At the time of his death, fifteen thousand seedlings were growing there. Another nursery, in addition to the four parcels purchased, tradition has placed on the west side of the St. Joseph river about three miles up from Fort Wayne on land originally owned by David Archer. It also being in a thrifty condition. Near this nursery, was the cabin of Mr. & Mrs Worth who were Chaman's first acquaintances and were his friends. It was here at this cabin where Appleseed stayed much of the( Continued to Form 10-300a ) Page 5 of 94
(Significance- Continued from Form 10-300. )
time while in this vicinity and where he died in 1845. The Worth cabin with friends, the nursery and Archer cemetery all within a radius of approximately one half mile.
The Fort Wayne Sentinel of March 22,1845, upon Chapman’s death,stated: " The deceased was well known through this region------—. He followed the occupation of a nurseryman and had been aregular visitor here upwards of twenty years.” end of quote.
* Man And Myth: ” We buried him respectably,” said Richard Worth in 1858, ” in David Archer's grave yard, two and a half miles north of Fort Wayne.” end of quote.
* Man And Myth: ” The Archer family burial lot was located on a sandy knoll a few rods west of the river a short distance south of the general locations attributed to the Chapman nursery and Worth's cabin------,” end of quote.
Chapman was buried here because of his final illness and death at the Worth cabin amongst his friends and because of his long association with others in this area.
* Man And Myth: ” Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park, together with the Johnny Appleseed Memorial Bridge over the St. Joseph, closeby, was dedicated May 21, 1949, and now constitutes the most extensive memorial to John Chapman—end of quote.
There is no other site in the State so closely associated with John Chapman's productive life as it is here in Fort Wayne.
The two acre sandy knoll lying within the 11.34 acre Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park is the apex of the park. It has been considered the ideal area and focal point for many years for memorializing Johnny Appleseed and his good deeds. The placement of a few items of significance now on the knoll, regardless of the place in the nation of his activity during his life until death, has already served as visual education for visitors to the site. Their comments have been most complimentary. It is for this purpose and reason, this site is being nominated for entry into the National Register. [Received Dec 12 1972]
Form contains several black and white photographs, maps, Johnny Appleseed source book by Robert C. Harris that appeared in the Old Fort News Vol. IX, Nos. 1-2, March - June 1945, page 82 discusses gift of land by Mr. and Mrs. William T. McKay for Johnny Appleseed Memorial Park October 20, 1947, and references.
