The native home of the apple is not known for certain, but it is known that apples were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Apples came to America with European settlers and were brought toward the west by travelers. One famous historical figure is John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, who was responsible for planting a multitude of apple trees throughout the Midwest. He is said to have been an eccentric but very smart businessman (and a student of Swedenborgian religious philosophy, no less). Another individual who gained his fame from the apple was Wilhelm Tell of Switzerland. While the story of his extraordinary marksmanship is legendary, few people seem to know that he was not attempting to show off his skill (nor was he simply being incredibly foolish) when he successfully shot through an apple placed on top of his son’s head, using a bow and arrow. He had been sentenced to do so for refusing to pay homage to a symbol of the German emperor.
