New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-27
uncle SANS GRAVE
Will BE MARKED
D. A. R. to Erect Memorial ia
Troy, NY, Cemetery

Troy, N. Y, Dec. 27-Uncle Sam S
grave, marked up to this time with
only a simple slab. is about to have
a monument, and the man who gave
his name to his country is to be
honored at last.
The Philip Schuyler Chapter Of
the Daughters of the American Rev
olution have plans to erect fitting
memorial to replace the inconspicu-
Gus one which reads:
Samuel Wilson
Died July 81, 1854.
Aged IS years.
Betsey Mann. his wife.
Though to the majority. Uncle
Sam is fictitious person, lean and
lanky, with striped pants, starry coat
with flying tails and q high hat.
there once was a real, live person
who was known personally to thou
sands of his fellow men as Uncle
Sam.
In 1858 in the little village of Ma
son. N. H., there was born to Mr..
and Mrs. Wilson a son who was
promptly christened Sam.
Made Bricks at Troy
When he was Fl years old, his
father having lost all his property
through poor investments during the
Revolution and the reconstruction
period while our nation was aborn-
ing. Sam and his brother. Ebenezer,
walked to Troy, N. Y, then a flour
ishing little village on the Hudson
at the head Of the tidewater.
Having learned the art of making
trick in their home town, the two
boys started a kiln in Troy. Many
home still standing were erected
with the product Of their hands. In
1912, when the United States and
England entered into war once
more, Sam established slaughter
house in Troy and, through associa-
ton with an Ebert Anderson, gov
ernment contractor, entered into a
bargain to furnish meat and other
supplies for the soldiers Quartered
a few miles below at Clinton
Heights, near the famous old Fort
Cralo. This place Is noted as the
birthplace of Yankee Doodle" as a
popular song.
Beef and pork were packed in
barrels and shipped to the camp by
boat or ox-train. Each cask was
marked on one side with the initials
of the contractor, F. A.. and. on the
other with those OF the consignee,
U. S. for United States government.
Popular With the Soldiers
The beef was excellent-for army
heef-and its producer became very
popular with tho soldiers. He was a
familiar figure about the camps as
he carried on his business of obtain
ing orders from the officers. Soon
everyone was calling him Uncle
Sam"
Legend has 1t that soldier OF
Irish extraction. noting the two pairs
of initials on the casks. asked their
meaning and was told by a wag
that the E. A. stood for the con-
tractors name and the U. s. for
Uncle Sam"
The name stuck and everything
marked with the initials U. s.. har-
ness, wagons, guns and even the
horses, come to be called Uncle
Sans property. It is said that from
this fact came the expression: I'm
Gle Sam is rich enough to give us
all farm"
How he came to be pictured as
a tall. spare, genial old man Is un-
known now. In reality he was short
and rather plump.
A Practical Joker, Too
That he was jolly and quite a
practical joker is attested by the
story that once, when grand
nephew was carrying bucket of
soup to Sans sister. it was set down
for a moment and Sam substituted
a pail of water for it. a joke appre-
ciated even by the sister.
He died July 81, 1854, and his
bones now rest beside those Of his
wife in a far corner Of lakewood
Cemetery, beneath the shade Of a
huge elm and overlooking a pretty
little lake, swan-dotted in the sum-
mer.
All about him are monuments
erected to heroes Of war or peace,
including General Wool and General
Thompson, "the Rock of Chicka-
mauga," heroes OF the Civil war.
So now. three quarters Of a GEN.
fury after his death. the man who
gave his country its worldfamed
appellation is to be honored by a
real memorial For after all, there s