TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA - NEWSPAPERS - Clinch Valley News, 21 Jun 1889
				   Origin of "Uncle Sam"
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This file was contributed for use in the Virginia USGenWeb Archives 
	by: Karen EAGLE Moman	arizonaeagle@qwest.net
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"Clinch Valley News"
Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA
Friday, 21 June, 1889

ORIGIN OF "UNCLE SAM"

Speculation has recently arisen regarding the origin of the term "UNCLE
SAM" as applied to the United States Government.

In the year 1812, between this country and great Britain, ELBERT
ANDERSON ,of New York, purchased in Troy, N. Y., a large amount of pork
for the American Army.

It was inspected by SAMUEL WILSON, who was popularly known as "UNCLE
SAM" The barrels of pork were marked "E. A., U. S.," the lettering being
done  (by an) employee of MR. WILSON .

When asked by fellow workmen the meaning of the mark (for the letters U.
S, for United States were almost certainly new to them), said, "he did
not know, unless it meant ELBERT ANDERSON  and "UNCLE SAM, " alluding to
UNCLE SAM WILSON.

The joke took among the workman, and passed currently, and "UNCLE SAM"
himself being present, was occasionally rallied on the increasing extent
of his possessions, Soon the incident appeared in print, and the joke
gained favor rapidly, till it penetrated and was recognized in every
part of the country, and says, JACK FROST, the Boston historian, will no
doubt continue so while the United States remains a nation.

It is now firmly imbedded in the Mosaic of our language, like
"Tippecanoe," "Log Cabin," and other short but expressive phrases, which
refer to important events in the history of the Republic. Both
"Tippecanoe"  and" Log Cabin" have taken on renewed force and vitality
since their adoption by. HON. H. H. WARNER, of Safe Cure fame, in the
naming of two of his great standard remedies, the principal one known as
Warner’s Log Cabin Sarsaparillas. They are based upon formulae so
successfully used by our ancestors in the cure of common ailments to
which their arduous labors rendered them liable in the good old Log
Cabin days.

The name of Warner’s Safe Cure, likewise, will be used in high esteem,
as familiar as a household word, while it continues to cure the worst
forms of Kidney Disease, which the medical profession confesses itself
unable to do.

Karen EAGLE Moman
arizonaeagle@qwest.net
May 2002