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Original Case Eagle trade mark of 1865.
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The following history was copied from the back cover of an old
J. I. Case booklet. It was sent to us by George and Janet Kester,
1290 Elizabeth Street, Crete, Illinois 60417-2202, who thought
other readers would enjoy it.
The Case Eagle Old Abeis a well known industrial trade-mark
throughout the main streets and country sides of thousands of
cities and hamlets in the United States and civilized countries the
world over. King of the air, the eagle is an established symbol in
American life and heritage. The Case Eagle Old Abeis far more than
merely a trade-mark. He is a character out of history, a bird with
a personality and a story all his own.
The story begins in the early spring of 1861. In the wild north
woods of Wisconsin, along the historic Flambeau River, the Chippewa
Indians had just set out on their annual sugar-making
pilgrimage.
Atop a great pine along the trail was a nest of mud and sticks,
and in the nest, an eaglet. The Indians felled the tree and took
the eaglet captive. The bird was still too young to fly.
Chief Sky, leader of the Chippe was, carried the eaglet back to
Jim Falls, Wisconsin, as a pet. There, Thunder of Bees, son of the
Chief' bartered the bird for a bushel of corn to a settler
named Daniel McCann. Remarking on the incident many years later, a
poetic commentator wrote: 'And for this paltry sum was a noble
bird sold from freedom to captivity; from barbarism to
civilization; from the murmur of pines to the crash of battle; from
obscurity to fame.'
Growing eagles make poor pets even for the hardy children of
pioneer settlers and when the bird reached enough growth to at
tempt to escape, McCann determined to sell him. The eagle was
already magnificent in appearance and displaying much spirit.
During those early days of the War Between the States, men were
being recruited for service. Soldiers have a weakness for mascots,
so McCann took his bargain bird directly to the nearest camp.
At Eau Claire, Company C of the Eighth Wisconsin Regiment was
being organized under the command of Captain John E. Perkins. The
men of the Company admired the bird. McCann made a sale for $2.50,
and the Eau Claire outfit had a mascot. They dubbed the eagle
'Old Abe' after their commander-in-chief. Thereafter, eagle
and Company were to make each other famous.
Once he had joined Company C, Old Abe became a legend almost
overnight. Gifted with remarkable intelligence, he became a soldier
among soldiers, more than a mascot, an inspiration to the men
around him.
A little later, when Company C joined the Eighth Regiment at
Madison, Old Abe became the mascot for the entire outfit. He was
inducted into military service in a special ceremony which included
placing red, white and blue ribbons around his neck and a rosette
of similar colors on his breast. He was carried on his perch in
regimental parades and given a place of honor, in the very center
of the front ranks, alongside the flag.