This term originated at the time of our war with England in 1812.
Provisions were purchased at Troy, N. Y., and the agent was Elbert
Anderson, the work being superintended by Ebenezer and Samuel Wilson,
the packages being marked E. A. U. S. Samuel Wilson was known all over
as Uncle Sam and he was often joked about his amount of provisions,
then the newspapers took it up and the term Uncle Sam came into
general use and is typical of our increasing national prosperity.
Quite recently a portrait of an actual personage whose features are
identical with those made familiar by caricatures of Uncle Sam, was
found in possession of a family near Toledo, Ohio. The portrait was
painted about 1818, but nothing is known of the shrewd, kindly old
man represented. His face was undoubtedly the origin of the accepted
caricature.