The postcards of the 1909 celebrations appealed to all levels of taste.

Uncle Sam came from the Hudson Valley

Did you know that Uncle Sam came from the Hudson Valley? Sam Wilson was born in Arlington, Massachusetts in 1766 and relocated to Troy with his brother in 1789 to open the business firm of E & S Wilson. He was known by many in Troy as “Uncle Sam” Wilson. One of the contracts held by E & S Wilson was to supply meats to the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. The troops received the meat in wooden barrels stamped with “U.S.” Whether the stamp referred to “Uncle Sam” Wilson or United States, the suggestion that the meat shipments came from "Uncle Sam" led to the idea that Uncle Sam symbolized the federal government and the two became synonymous.

Samuel Wilson did not look anything like the widely accepted image of Uncle Sam. Uncle Sam's traditional appearance, with a white goatee and star-spangled suit, is an invention of artists and political cartoonists.

Samuel Wilson died in 1854. His grave is in the Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.