Show original uncle sam a butcher troy N Y claims sam wilson of its town was artists model TROY N Y A slaughterhouse owner tall and thin with graying hair was the original of the cartoonist s I 1 un uncle cle sam troy fistori ans contend in denying claims from other sections regarding the origin of the famous figure he was sam wilson a packer who moved from mason N H in 1789 and settled near troy during the war of 1812 wilson became associate ed with elbert anderson who had a contract to supply meat to federal troops stationed at what is now clinton heights N Y and at newburgh up to this time wilson was known locally as uncle sam and his wife the former betsy mann as aunt betsy because of their local philanthropy U S for uncle sam rutherford B hayner former edi tor of a troy newspaper and local historian offers an explanation of how the title uncle sam was spread until it came to be a national colloquialism hayner rayner wrote in a historical rec 0 ord rd that anderson and wilson shipped meat to troops in casks marked with their initials but instead of using S W wilson used the initials for uncle sam so that the casks were labeled E A U S in explanation of how the meat packer s name came to signify the united states hayner rayner recounted this incident when a large consignment of meat was awaiting shipment a party of visitors landed at this dock and on seeing this pile of freight inquired of the watchman an irishman who was one of uncle sam sams s e employees who the owners were and a nd the watchman replied its it s all marked sir and belongs to mr anderson and uncle sam I 1 then the people asked who uncle cl e sam was the reply was why don t you know he owns nearly all about here and it is be he who is feeding the army 1 11 troy defends his title hayner rayner explained that the remark was variously interpreted but the impression grew that the initials U S stood for united states and that tha uncle sam was a local name tor for the country soldiers spread the story the story is repeated in a local history written by arthur J joseph boake secretary to mayor frank J hogan said troy was pre pared to defend its right to be called uncle sams home several years ago a go a monument was dedicated in 0 oakwood cemetery where wilson was buried A tablet states that wilson was the original uncle sam wilson was bom in 1767 he died july 31 1854 A somewhat similar version of uncle sam has arisen in the south at daleville maleville Da leville miss a historical society believes gen sam dale was the man who typified uncle sam he also provided provisions for soldiers in the war of 1812 and was called uncle sam by tennessee mountaineers in gen andrew jacksons army |