A "Wealth" of Information

We are picking Wealthy apples now.

Say what?

Wealthy is one of the most famous of the hardy, all-purpose varieties. Wealthy is also considered to be a standout among pie apples.  If you want to make a single-variety crisp or pie, try Wealthy.  At peak ripeness, the flavor is more sweet than tart, and the texture is soft without being mushy.  Just at ripeness the pie flavor tends to be slightly tart. Wealthy makes a tart, creamy sauce. I like it chopped and added to salads, especially chicken salad.

But why the name, “Wealthy?”

Here is a condensed version of my research from several sources.

Peter Gideon was born in Champaign County, Ohio in 1818.  When he was still young, his family moved to Illinois.  In 1849, he married Wealthy Hull, who was born in Madison County, Ohio. 

Peter and Wealthy met and married in Minnesota. At that time, only crabapple trees were able to withstand Minnesota’s harsh winters. Gideon sent for seeds from an apple grower in Maine and began crossing the seeds with his best crabapple. Just one variety of seed was successful. Gideon named this new variety after his wife.

I found several different accounts of where Wealthy was born and where she and Peter met. I went with a copy of her obituary that I found online.

An interesting fact: Wealthy Hull was a descendant of Joseph Hull, founder of Barnstable Mass, and the niece of Isaac Hull, commander of “Old Ironsides” during the War of 1812.

Marcheta *and now you know...