"Hokey Pokey" Originator Dead (1907)

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>Hokey-pokey and ice-cream were linked terms long before Sam was born.
>Question is: Why were the Italian ice-cream vendors called "hokey-pokey"
>men? Because their goats were recalcitrant?

Why is it thought that "hokey-pokey" referred to ice cream long before Sam
was born?

(1) When was Sam born?

(2) Can the term "hokey-pokey" for ice cream or so be found before about 1880?

The quotation about the Italians and goats is apparently from a 2002 book.
Is the information verifiable?

-- Doug Wilson