Mango Matt

Perhaps you have heard of Johnny Appleseed?

Mango Matt

It is time you learned of Mango Matt, a kind-hearted sort of individual. He was variously known as Mango Matt, Matthew Mangoseed, and Mangoseed Matt.

Mango Matt grew up reading tales of Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan, and the like. Matt was especially fond of the concept of Johnny Appleseed, and wished to do something similiar to leave his mark on the world.

While a child of 5, Mango Matt ran away from home and obtained work on a cargo ship as a ship sweeper. For 47 years Matt roamed the world as a ship sweeper, and a very good one he was. He saved pretty much all of his $25 per month wages. Matt lived a simple life on board ship, his main pleasure was reading and rereading The Tales of Johnny Appleseed.

At the age of 41, Matt's ship docked in the Philippines and took on a cargo of mangos. Onboard the cook served mangos with most meals on this voyage to Alaska.  Matt grew to love mangos, and wished to share them with the world somehow.

One night while rereading the Tales of Johnny Appleseed  Matt had an inspiration.  Yes, and a fine one it was, at least in theory. He could take his life savings, and on the next trip to the Philippines purchase many mango seeds. Once he returned to the states he could live a life of Johnny Appleseed and forest  his homeland with mango trees!

Matt waited and waited, and finally in 1937 his ship returned to the Philippines where Matt purchased copious amounts of mango seeds.

The return trip from the Philippines was a direct one to the United States. While on this voyage (his final one), Matt spent his time reading and rereading his book The Tales of Johnny Appleseed for all the technical information he could gather. 



Matt at 116 Years of Age

Matt's ship docked in Superior, Wisconsin on June12th,1938. Bidding a fond farewell to his captain and crewmates , Matt entrusted his precious cargo of mango seeds to the dockworkers while he went in search of a truck to purchase.

Definitely in luck, Matt located a 1927 Visti Overland Express ton and a half truck for a reasonable price, which he promptly purchased. After filling the tank on his Visti, Matt hurried back to the dock to pick up his precious cargo.

Thus began the legend of Mango Matt.

Mango Matt wandered thoughout the United States, and occasionally into Canada.

Today's vast forests of mango trees throughout the United States can be accredited to Mango Matt. They bear fruit year round, due to Matt's incredible location strategy for planting seeds.

It may be hard to believe, but at one time it was impossible to go out in the middle of a Northwest Wisconsin winter and pick a fine juicy mango. We all owe Matt a debt of gratitude, and if by chance you see him, tell him "Thanks for the mango." It always makes his day to hear that.

These photos were taken in the fall of 2002 in Omaha, Nebraska after the annual Mango Festival. Although 116 years of age at the time of these photographs, Mango Matt is still in remarkable shape. We chatted with Matt a while, and he said he owes his fine life to mangos. Matt says his aging process quit when he switched to a 100% mango diet.

Antique Dirt Road Discovered

Antique Dirt Road

Gravel Road still in use.

Boyer Chute in Nebraska

This is something you may have heard your grandparent's speak of. An actual gravel road, and it is still being used. It is located in Nebraska. Details are sketchy on this mystery find. Judging from the photo it appears to go a little ways, then turn to the left. Imagine that!

Noticing this rural oddity, I parked the car near the entrance to this road. Being in a pioneer spirit, I exited the car and gingerly approached the gravel road. I paused and contemplated what I was about to do, then cautiously placed my right foot gently on the surface of this strange environment.

It appeared solid enough to support my weight, so I brought my other foot into contact with this road. The surface was not as stable as people are used to nowadays. The gravel shifted slightly as I stood there, an eerie feeling for a modern human.

Taking several steps on this road, I found it no more stable in any spot I placed my feet. Turning around in a stumbling manner, I quickly returned to the solid footing of a black topped road.

My wife now had her camera in hand, and begged me to return to the road to allow a photo taking opportunity of this "return to the past". This I could not do.

Did I suffer any bad effects from this experience? How did I feel? After walking on history my stomach felt like it was moving side to side as water moves in a lake. I actually felt the need to vomit as sweat poured off of me. Pausing and finally regaining my composure after 23 1/2 minutes, I returned to the car for my Visti 25x Digital Zoomer camera and took this photo to share with the world.

Sam Soupmaker

Things were very bad in 1873 in the town of Littlescum, Iowa. People were starving to death.

It was so bad that some individuals were starving to death five or six times every month. Food was available in great quantities, but the trouble was that Carl the Cook had recently inherited $12,507 and left town to live a life of luxury in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Without a town cook, how could people possibly avoid starving?

Things were terrible, individuals would starve to death, then they would starve to death again and again. It wasn't too long before people began to get tired of starving to death

A petition was needed, yes it was. The citizens petitioned the Honorable Mayor Horace Lackabrain. Signed by all, the petitioned called for the mayor to hire a new town cook.

The mayor jumped into action, and promptly posted an ad in the Littlescum Gazette. Unfortunately the only people that read this periodical were Littlescumians, as the people of Littlescum were called

However, and fortunately for the folks in town, the dogcatcher also doubled as the official Littlescum Webmaster. Conferring with Mayor Lackabrain, they came up with an advertisement to post on the city's official website. With great expectations Webmaster/Dogcatcher Wilford T. Bowels inserted the following announcement on the very front page of the Littlescum Website.

City Employment Opportunity in Littlescum, Iowa. There is an immediate opening for a cook. This position is full time. Benefits include free rent in the Littlescum Grand Hotel. For further information contact the Mayor Horace Lackabrain at the following email address: themayor@littlescum.com

Sam Soupmaker was browsing the internet looking for a way to save lives with his soup machine. Fortunately for Littlescum, Iowa, Sam came across their advertisement. Sam the Soupmaker (aka Souper Sam). promptly emailed the mayor and requested to converse with him on Yahoo Messenger.

That evening they chatted using the messenger device, and agreed on certain terms. One of the terms Sam insisted on was the hiring of Spigot Steve, his brother, to handle the actual soup dispensing procedure. Soon Sam and Steve boarded an Aero Whosher Air Travel Device with their soup machine, and were enroute to Littlescum, Iowa

Littlescumians were overjoyed to hear of the cook enroute to their town, and all went to the Littlescum International Airport to greet the man that would cook for them. Yes, even the Littlescum Lutes and Lyres Marching band was there! Children screamed in delight as the Aero Whosher came into view

Onboard, Sam Soupmaker had his Soup Machine fully loaded with all needed ingredients and a fine soup of pork parts, stewed onions, celery, and parsley was awaiting the Littlescum residents. Spigot Steve was doing his hand limbering excercises in anticipation of operating the soup spigot that would revitalize the town.

The Aero Whosher landed, and as the Soup Machine was offloaded with its wonderous smelling load of Pork Part Soup the townspeople rushed forward. As the crowd rushed forward, Spigot Steve prepared to operate the spigot as Soupmaker Sam stirred this scrumptious feast

The townspeople were all eager to be first in line for this fine meal. Soon a scuffle broke out, and in the melee Spigot Sam's hands were horribly injured. Though this was an accident, it rendered Steve unable to operate the spigot. Pressure began to build up within the soup machine, and with Spigot Steve unable to operate the spigot, an explosion was unavoidable.

The seams on the soup machine began to stretch as the pressure built up within. Littlescum residents began to back away from this now dangerous device. Yet, unaware of the the true dangers they were in, they retreated much too slowly

With horror struck eyes, they watched the soup machine explode. Heated Pork Part Soup covered Sam and Steve, instantly killing them

Sadly, Littlescum was never able to hire another cook, and the residents spent the rest of their lives starving to death over and over again.