THE HISTORY OF OLD ABE
(Page 2 of 2)
Throughout the bitter, unhappy struggle, Old Abe went through
thirty-eight battles and skirmishes, and the Eighth Regiment became
known as the Eagle Regiment. With his wild piercing cry, he was
familiar to men on both sides of the fight and gained equal respect
as one of the brave and courageous fighters.
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Old Abe's remarkable loyalty was known to all and on
occasions he broke his bonds and winged swiftly away and
disappeared. After a short interval of freedom, the kingly bird,
his wings spread to a magnificent six and a half feet, would swoop
silently down to his perch beside the flag. Ed Homiston was the big
bird's best known keeper, and he never lost faith in him when
he escaped his tethers. After the war, Old Abe appeared in many
parades and reviews and received the cheers of the nation. He was
quartered in the State House at Madison to spend his mature years
and was visited by thousands annually.
His last public appearance was in 1880 at a great reunion of
veterans held in Milwaukee. There he shared the platform with
General Grant. In the big parade Old Abe was a figure of
magnificent dignity. When the band struck up a stir ring march, he
answered with his celebrated battle cry. The very next winter a
fire broke out in the basement of the capitol where paints and oils
were stored. Almost suffocated by heat and smoke, Old Abe never
recovered from the ordeal and the great eagle died on March 26,
1881, following a memorable life.
Stuffed and mounted in a glass case, he continued to attract
attention long after his death. But in February, 1904, came another
fire which destroyed even his remains. And now, in the new Memorial
Hall, there are two oil paintings to keep fresh the memory of the
fighting eagle who earned his place in the sun. Mr. Case first
encountered the eagle in 1861 while on a business trip to Eau
Claire where Company C was parading. Over the ruffle of drums and
the tramp of marching feet, the bird was screaming his battle cry.
Mr. Case questioned a boy standing along side 'Where did he
come from the eagle?' The boy told him Old Abe's story.
Then and there Mr. Case determined to adopt Old Abe as the
symbol of his business just as soon as the unhappy war was over. In
1865 Old Abe began his career as the most famous bird in
agricultural history as the trade-mark of the J. I. Case
Company.
For nearly one hundred years the Case Eagle has made its mark
wherever men obtain their living from the soil. Today the Eagle
trade-mark identifies Case machinery, parts, literature, branch
houses, and dealers. Just as Old Abe came through the battles of a
long hard war to make a place for himself among the immortals, so
has the J. I. Case Company come through the turmoils of more than a
century and emerged as one of the leaders in the agricultural
industry.
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