The Origin of Uncle Sam
Pauline Wilson Stephens, “The Origin of ‘Uncle Sam,’” Carrier Dove (Oakland), July 1887: 247.
Another, better-known genealogy of the original Uncle Sam exists, besides this one, and is linked below—JB.
Immediately after the Declaration of War with
England in 1812, Elbert Anderson of New York, then a contractor, visited
Troy where he purchased a quantity of provisions. The Inspectors
of the articles of that place were Ebenezer and Samuel Wilson; the latter
gentleman universally known as Uncle Sam, generally superintended in person
a large number of workmen who were on this occasion employed in overhauling
the provisions purchased by the contractor. The casks were marked
E. A. U. S., the inspection fell to the lot of a facetious fellow, who
being asked the meaning of the marks said he did not know, unless it meant
Elbert Anderson and Uncle Sam, alluding to Uncle Sam Wilson. The
joke took among the workmen and passed currently, and Uncle Sam when present
was often rallied by them on the increasing extent of his possessions.
—Copied from the Great Centennial, published
by the Centennial Art Journal.
Uncle Sam was the eldest of five children of Ebenezer Wilson and Annie Austin, born at Taunton, Mass., January 22, 1772. His father served in the Revolutionary War, at the close of which he removed to Pittstown, Rensellaer County, New York, where his family was raised. Uncle Sam married Chloe Brown by whom he raised three sons, Samuel, Austin, and Alfred. He lived in Pittstown, owning flour mills, a water course running through the farm. Upon his first wife’s death he married Charlotte Nutting Reed by whom he raised four children, Ebenezer Vespasian Wilson, (the noted E. V. Wilson of Spiritualistic notoriety,) David J. Wilson, Jacob and Pauline Wilson, twin children.
Uncle Sam held the office of Major in the War of 1812, his epaulettes being still in the possession of his daughter. In the early part of the war he furnished a quantity of flour for Elbert Anderson, and in this way his name became connected with the government. In 1824 he removed to Verona, Oneida County, New York, there spending the remaining days of his life, passing to spirit life, September 3, 1844, his mortal remains are interred in the old graveyard at Oneida Valley.
Compiled by his daughter,
PAULINE WILSON STEPHENS.
Better known as the Trance Spiritualistic Speaker
and Trance Medium,
Mrs. P. W. STEPHENS.
A Competing Narrative of the Original Uncle Sam
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