Origin of the Name "Uncle Sam."

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 248, 21 March 1888, Page 10

Origin of the Name " Uncle Sam."

Many learned men have expended much timo in endeavouring to trace bho origin of odd names and odd sayings which, taking their rise in some trifling circumstance, were well understood at the time, yet in the course of years became involved in obscurity. How few men of the present day can tell the origin of the name " Uncle Sam," as applied to the United States. I accidentally came across an explanation of ib in an old work in which the writer states ib occurred under his own eye. Immediately aftei- the declaration of the last war with England, Elberl Anderson, of New York, then a contractor, visited Troy-on-the-Hudson, where was concentrated, and wheie he purchased a large quantity of provisions—beef, pork, etc. The inspectors of these articles at that city were Mcin's Ebenezer and Samuel Wilson. The latter gentleman (invariably known a3 " Uncle Sam"), generally superintended in persona large number of workmen who were employed in overhauling the provisions purchased by the contractors for the army. The casks were marked E. A. — U.S. This work Fell to the facetious fellow in the employ of Messrs Wilson, who, on being asked 'by some of his fellow-workmen the meaning of the mark (for the letters U.S., for United States, were then almost entirely new to most of them), said he did nob know unless it meant Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam— alluding to the same Uncle Sam Wilson. The joke took among the workmen, and passed'curronlly, and Uncle Sam himself, being present, was occasionally railed by them on the increase oi his possessions. Many of thoso workmen joined the army, and, of course, their jokes went with them, and before jbhe firab campaign ended this identical one appeared, in print. It gained favour vapidly till ib penetrated to and was recognised in every part of our country, and no daubfc will continue to be while the United States remains a nation.

chains ;~G- C. Deverill, £19 19a 6d ; M. O'Donoghne, £23 ; J. Shine, £24 10 ; P. McDevitt, £30 ; J. Heathcote, £35 ; Murray nnd Orr, £36 13s 6d ; W. Hothrington, £39 19s. Considerable discussion took place as to whether it would not he bettor to postpone carrying out the works mentioned in contracts Nos. 2 and 5 till later on, as nearly nil the proposed works in these contracts were in Whitaker street; and it was resolved, that in the event of Piako County Council at their next meeting carrying out the proposition of theirChuinnan (and thereby entirely hand over that poition of the county road within the town district to the control of thd Town Board) to accept thelowesttender for both of these contracts, and then proceed with the work (should the contractors still be willing) ; it being deomed inadvisable to do «o at once. The opinion was freely expressed, that whilst their might ba no objection to the Council handing over the control of the road to the Town Board, if they so desired; still to do so without making ony provision to at least assist towards the costof keeping it in repair would not be fair : seeing that the Town District would still be liable to be roted, although within the Town District, both general and separate rate levied by County must not exceed Jd in the £ in any one year.