Evening journal., 1898-05-27
PATRON SAINT.
Peculiar Origin of the Name, ''Uncle
SAM"
Talxen from the Brand Placed Upon
Army Supplies by an En-
terprising Dealer in
Provisions.

The gentleman who graced the GU
bernatorial armchair of our state
when this century was born happened
TO be an ardent admirer of classic lore
and the grand old names of antiquity.
1t is TO his amiable weakness in be-
slowing these pompous cognomens on
our embryo towns and villages that
to-day names like Utica, Syracuse, Ith-
aca and Seneca, instead of evobng Wis
ions of historic pomp and circumstance,
raise in the minds of most New York
ers the picture of cocky little cities,
abundantly provided with trolley cars
and meeting houses.
When, however, this cultured gov
ernor, in his ardor, christened one OF
the cities Troy, and the hill in its
vicinity Mount Ida, he little dreamed
that youth was living on its slopes
whose name was destined TO become
II household word the world over, as
the synonym for the proudest and
wealthiest republic yet known to his
tory, a sobriquet that would be famil-
lar in the mouths of races to whose con-
tinents even the titles of Jupiter or
Mars never penetrated.
little before this century began,
two boys with packs bound on their
stalwart shoulders walked from New
York and established brick yard in
the neighborhood of what Is now Perry
street, Troy. Ebenezer and Samuel
Wilson soon became esteemed citizens
of the infant city, their kindness and
benevolence winning for them the af-
fection and respect of the community.
The younger brother, Samuel, was an
especial favoritc with all the children
in the place, whose explorations into
his deep pockets were generally re-
warded by the discovery of some simple
'sweet" or homemade toy. The slen-
der youth with the "nutcracker" face
proving to be the merriest of play
fellows, in their love his little band OF
admirers gave him the pet name Of
Uncle SAM" by which he quickly be
came known to the exclusion of his
real name. This is the kindly and hum
bic origin of title the mere speaking
of which to-day quickens the pulse and
moistens the eyes of millions of Amer
leans with the same thrill that the
dear old flag arouses when we catch
sight of it, especially an unexpected
glimpse in some foreign land.
With increasing wealth the brick
yard of the Wilson brothers was re-
placed by an extensive Strengthening
business, in which more than hum
dred men were soon employed-a vast
establishment for that day, killing
weekly some thousand head Of cattle.
During the military operations of 1912
the brothers signed contract to fur
nish the troops at Greenbush with
meat, packed in fun bound barrels OF
white oak" and soon after Samue.
was appointed inspector of provisions
for the army.
True prototype of the nation that
was later to be called by his name, this
shrewd and honest patriot not only
lived loyalty up TO his contracts, Civ.
ing full measure and OF his best, but
proved himself incorruptible, making
it his business TO see that others, too
fulfilled their engagements, both in
the letter and the spirit; so that the
~. S." (abbreviation OF United States
which he scratched on all provisions
that had passed his Inspection became
in the officers and soldiers eyes a
guarantee of excellence. SamueI's old
friends, the boys of Troy, now enlisted
in the army (naively imagining that
his use of the mystic initials was an
allusion to the pet name they had
given him years before) would accept
no meat but "Uncle Sans" murmurinQ
IL other brands were offered them
Their comrades, without inquiry, fol
lowed their example, and so strong
did the prejudice for food marked ~
s." become, that all the contractors
in order that their provisions should
find favor with the soldiers, took tC
announcing "Uncle Sam" brands.
To the greater part of the troops
ignorant (as are most Americans to
day. OF the real origin of this pseu
donym, Uncle Sam's" beef and breaC
meant merely government provisions
and the step from national belonging
TO an impersonation of our country b,
an ideal Uncle Sam" was but logioa
sequence.
In his vigorous old age, Samuel WI
son again lived on Mount Ida. near tn
estates of the Warren family. Tn
honor in which he was held bv all III
countryside, the influence for good h
cXerted, and the informal tribunal h
held, where his neighbors came +
get their differences Strengthened on
by his common sense, are still talke
of by the older Inhabitants. On
story in particular used to charm m
boyish cars. 1t was about bitter dis
pute over land between the Warren
and the Van Rensselaers, which wa
brought 10 a peaceful end by "Uncl
Sans" producing barrel of old paper
(con1dcd TO him by both families dan
ing the war for safe keeping) and G,
tracing from this original 'stron
box" title deeds 10 the property in III
igation.
It is a curious coincidence that Ems
land also should have taken an eX-arm
contractor as her patron saint, for
we are 10 believe tradition ST. Georg
Of Cappadocia filed that position b'