Did Johnny Appleseed really plant apple trees?

Yes. John Chapman, a pioneer nurseryman who lived in the 1800s, was also called Johnny Appleseed because he planted orchards in the Midwest United States. He also encouraged the development of fruit-tree orchards farther west by giving away free seedlings to pioneers. In drawings, he is often shown as a barefoot tramp roaming the countryside scattering seeds from a bag slung over his shoulder. The real Appleseed, however, was a curious figure who often preached from the Bible and from religious texts to passersby. At the time of his death in 1845, he was a successful businessman who owned thousands of acres of orchards and nurseries.