Daily camera., 1898-08-13
OUR PATRON SAINT.
Peculiar Origin Of the Name, "Uncle
Sam"
Taken from the Brand Placed Upon
Army Supplies by an En-
terprisinE Dealer in
PrOvisiOns.

DerudlOTldl dEiu-Sudli VI Jul StoeS
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 evoking 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
household word the world over, as
the synonym for the proudest and
wealthiest republic yet known to his
tory, sobriquet that would be famil-
lar in the mouths of races to whose con-
tinents even the titles of Jupiter or
Mars never penetrated.
A 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 favorite 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
fnoistens 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 slaughtering
business, in which more than hun
dred men were soon employed-a vast
establishment for that day, killing
weekly some thousand bead of cattle.
During the military operations of 1912
the brothers signed a contract to fur
nish the troops at Greenbush with
meat, packed in full bound barrels Of
white oak" and soon after Samuel
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. Samuel's old
friends, the boys of Troy, now enlisted
i'll 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 Sam's," murmuring
if other brands were offered them.
Their comrades, without inquiry, fol-
lowed their example, and so strong
did the prejudice for food marked "U.
s." become, that all the contractors,
in order that their provisions should
find favor with the soldiers, took to
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 Sa1n's' beef and bread
meant merely government provisions,
and the step from national belongings
to an impersonation of our country by
an ideal "Uncle Sam" was but logical
sequence.
In his vigorous old age, Samuel Will
son again lived on Mount Ida, near the
estates of the Warren family. The
honor in which he was held by all the
countryside, the influence for good he
eXerted, and the informal tribunal he
held. where his neighbors came to
get their differences Strengthened out
by his common sense, are still talked
of by the older inhabitants. One
story in particular used to charm my
boyish ears. 1t was about bitter dis
pute over land between the Warrens
and the Van Rensselaers, which was
brought to peaceful end by "Uncle
Sans" producing barrel of old papers
(confidcd to him by both families dur
ing the war for safe keeping) and ex-
tracting from this original strong
box" title deeds to the property in lit
igation.
1t is curious coincidence that Eng
land also should have taken an ex-army