I received the idea for this article when I was browsing books on epitaphs from tombstones. I came upon a monument in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York that read, “In loving memory Of “Uncle Sam” The name Originating with Samuel Wilson 1766-1854 during the War of 1812 and since adopted by the United States.”
There was also a brief description of the origins of the Uncle Sam (initials U.S.), but other than having seen some posters for army recruiting, I hadn’t known the origin that dates back to the War of 1812.
Although this same honor was claimed by other Samuel Wilson’s in other states, Congress passed a law that September 13, 1989 (The birthday of Samuel Wilson of Troy) to be “Uncle Sam Day.” On September 15, 1961, Congress passed a resolution in recognition of Samuel Wilson, of Troy, New York, to be the progenitor of America’s National symbol of Uncle Sam.
The “real” Samuel Wilson, “Uncle Sam” was born in Arlington, Massachusetts. When Samuel was 14, the family moved to Mason, New Hampshire. At 15, Sam, in 1781, joined the Revolutionary Army. While enlisted, one of his duties was the slaughtering and packaging of meat.
By 1789, Sam, age 22, and his older brother, Ebeneezer, 27, traveled, by foot, to Troy, New York, to seek a better life.
The brothers were among the first settlers in the community. Within a year, the brothers operated a successful brickyard. By 1793, they established E & S Wilson Meat Packing, which became quite profitable.
According to Don Ritter’s article, “Will the real Uncle Sam stand up!” written in 2013, “…if you grew up in Troy you know calling someone uncle or aunt was a very common way to acknowledge a friend of your parents or endearment to someone you knew.” He goes on to say that Samuel Wilson,of Troy, was liked very much by the locals, and referred to as “Uncle Sam.”
By 31 years of age, Sam was doing well in business, but longed for his sweetheart, still living in Mason. He went back for Betsey Mann, brought her back to Troy, where they were married in 1797. They had 4 children, but only 2 survived.
During the War of 1812, the E & S Wilson brothers contracted with Elbert Anderson, Secretary of War, to supply badly needed rations to the troops in New York and New Jersey. Sam Wilson was appointed meat inspector for the Northern Army. One of the criteria for the inspection ordered by Elbert Anderson was that every barrel of meat be labeled “E.A.-U.S.,” meaning Elbert Anderson, United States.
Some of the barrels went nearby to the troops at Greenbush, New York. Many of these soldiers, from Troy, were acquainted with Sam Wilson, as a meat packer, and his nickname, “Uncle Sam.” So when they saw the barrels “E.A. U.S.” stamp, they associated “U.S.” as Uncle Sam.
The local Troy newspaper soon picked up on this story and Uncle Sam gained widespread acceptance. It seems anything with the initials U.S. was also linked to being Army property and became a nickname for the United States.
Although this heart-warming local story gained publicity through local newspapers, the Uncle Sam name was mentioned prior to the War of 1812.
In 1775, the term appeared in the “Yankee Doodle” lyrics of the Revolutionary War as follows, “Old Uncle Sam come than to change, Some pancakes and some onions, For ‘lasses cakes, to carry home, To give his wife and young ones.”
It is not known if the Uncle Sam mentioned is a person or a metaphor for United States.
Various cartoon images of Uncle Sam appeared in newspapers by the 1830s. Through the 1860s and 1870s, cartoonist Thomas Nast evolved the Uncle Sam image into a white beard, with a stars and stripes suit.
But the most famous one, still recognized today, was from political cartoonist, James Montgomery Flagg, created in 1917-1918, when 4 million posters were printed with the words “I Want You,” for the U.S. Army.
The historical Samuel Wilson died on July 31, 1854. His burial plot is in Oakwood Cemetery, Troy, New York. The Troy Daily Times (1854) stated, “He has been one of the most active business men of the community, and we can truly say he was an honest and upright man.”
And if anyone still doesn’t believe that Samuel Wilson, of Troy, New York, is the real Uncle Sam, I’ll quote the ending of Don Ritter’s extensive research article: “I would say that there is enough evidence that Troy’s Sam Wilson and America’s Uncle Sam are the same entity. For those who disagree? Get over it.”
