Biography of the Tennessee Walking Horse

By Ben A. Green

A NEWSPAPERMAN’S VERSION OF THE “BIG STORY” OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE

The Tennessee Walking Horse is a breed of gaited horse known for its unique four-beat running-walk and flashy movement. It was originally developed in the southern United States for use on farms and plantations. It is a popular riding horse due to its calm disposition, smooth gaits and sure-footedness. The Tennessee Walking Horse is often seen in the show ring, but is also popular as a pleasure and trail riding horse using both English and Western equipment. Tennessee Walkers are also seen in movies, television shows and other performances.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Papamoa Press
• Release date: Dec 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781789126105

Ben A. Green

Ben A. Green was an American newspaperman and author from Tennessee. He was married to Alice Bates Williams Green, “a Bedford County Girl,” who nursed the author back to life during a 38-day hospitalization in 1959, and who herself died in August 1960, as the last chapter of the Biography of the Tennessee Walking Horse was being written. He was also the author of Jack Daniel’s Legacy, a biography of the famous founder of the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey distillery, which was published in 1967.

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Text originally published in 1960 under the same title.

© Papamoa Press 2018, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

BIOGRAPHY OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE

BY

BEN A. GREEN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

DEDICATION 4

FOREWORD 5

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 6

Strolling Jim—(1939 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 8

Haynes Peacock—(1940-41 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 10

Melody Maid—(1942 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 11

Black Angel—(1943 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 13

City Girl—(1944 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 15

Midnight Sun—(1945-46 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 17

Merry Go Boy—(1947-48 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 19

Midnight Merry—(1949 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 21

Old Glory’s Big Man—(1950 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 23

Talk of the Town—(1951-52-53 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 25

White Star—(1954 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 27

Go Boy’s Shadow—(1955-56 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 29

Sun’s Jet Parade—(1957 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 31

Setting Sun—(1958 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 33

Rodgers’ Perfection—(1959 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 35

Mack K’s Handshaker—(1960 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD) 37

WILLIAM J. MCGILL—(1873-1949) 51

JIMMIE JOE MURRAY—(1878-1947) 53

GILBERT Mac WILLIAMS ORR—(1892-1949) 55

CHAPTER I—WAR—RECONSTRUCTION—AND A BREED IS BORN 70

CHAPTER II—ALLAN F-1—THE CINDERELLA HORSE 78

CHAPTER III—A CASE OF TOO MANY TOM HALS 85

CHAPTER IV—WARTRACE—CRADLE OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE 94

CHAPTER V—COUNTY FAIRS—STATE FAIRS—THEN HORSE SHOWS 112

CHAPTER VI—THE BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION—PERPETUATING THE BREED 121

FOUNDATION SIRES AND DAMS—(As Listed in The Registers) 128

CHAPTER VII—THE NATIONAL CELEBRATION—A COMMUNITY MIRACLE 153

CHAPTER VIII—WHAT JUDGES LOOK FOR IN PICKING A WINNER 220

CHAPTER IX—TRAINING WALKING HORSES FOR SHOW OR PLEASURE 231

CHAPTER X—THE FUTURE OF THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE 238

AN APPENDIX — EXPERTS’ VIEWS ON FACTORS IN BREEDING 242

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 250

DEDICATION

DEDICATED TO

My Beloved Wife

ALICE BATES WILLIAMS GREEN

A Bedford County Girl

Who nursed me back to life during a 38-day hospitalization in 1959 and who herself died August 11, 1960, as the last chapter of this book was being written.

BEN A. GREEN

FOREWORD

This is a newspaperman’s version of the Big Story of the Tennessee Walking Horse. It is offered without apology for its newspaper style. Every effort has been made to present facts as fully qualified facts, opinions as clearly expressed opinions. Any deviation from this policy is unintentional, and corrections will be appreciated. In Chapter X the author sets out ideas for a 4-year Centennial Crusade for Appreciation of the Tennessee Walking Horse. Early in 1965 he is going to check on results and will write another book if they merit such reporting. This book is privately printed, and privately sold only by the undersigned, or his especially designated agents.

Ben A. Green

Shelbyville, Tenn.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author of this book is especially indebted to Publisher Franklin Yates who made it possible for him to live in Shelbyville as Editor of The Times-Gazette, a newspaper published five days a week. But for this fact, this book could not possibly have been written. Many persons have helped with this work in many ways.

They include Leland C. Fritzsche, whose suggestion for the Centennial made this book happen this year; President Franklin Boyd, and Associates William L. Parker, Phil J. Scudder, Robert M. Thomas, Evan Lloyd Adamson, William C. Tune, Jr. and Henry C. Tilford, Jr., of the Celebration Executive Committee.

Chairman John H. Amos of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ and Exhibitors’ Association of America Executive Committee; President J. Glenn Turner of that association and its Executive Secretary Tom Fulton, Secretary-Treasurer Marianne Hawkins and members of the staff.

The author appreciates greatly the efficient and consistent help of Mrs. Nellie Mae Morgan of The Times-Gazette staff and of Mrs. Dorothy Reed, typist, who served in other ways.

From the research angle this book could not have been without the great historical work done by the late W. J. McGill, Jimmy Joe Murray, Gilbert Orr and others to whom tributes are expressed elsewhere. The author thanks Miss Margaret Lindsley Warden and Trainer Winston Wiser for use of their articles and is grateful indeed to Miss Martha Murray for use of files of the Tennessee Walking Horse Magazine, source for much of the history printed herein. Twenty-two annual issues of the Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration’s Blue Ribbon were also most helpful, nine of them being edited by the late Gilbert Orr, and 12 of them by General Manager Sam G. Gibbons. The author is indebted to Celebration Official Photographer Les Nelson for use of various official pictures appearing herein, including most of the Grand Champions in color.

Strolling Jim—(1939 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

A three-year-old chestnut gelding with a near hind sock, a star and a snip became the world’s most renowned Tennessee Walking Horse in the space of three nights encompassed by the first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration staged in 1939. This horse—Strolling Jim—captured the imagination of the continent and gave a great surge to appreciation of the breed in lands near and far.

Strolling Jim was foaled in 1936 near Viola, Tenn., bred by Edd Gilliam. His dam, Allen’s Strolling Jennie, was by Mabrey Allen, in turn sired by Roan Allen F-38. Jim’s sire was Wilson’s Allen, also by Roan Allen F-38, making Jim a double grandson of Old Roan Allen.

As a colt he was broken to a wagon and used generally on the farm. Gilliam sold him to Charlie Ramsey of Viola, who noticed he was a fine saddlehorse potentially. W. Henry Davis and Floyd Carothers of Wartrace bought Jim (as recounted in the story of the first National Celebration). This trade was made April 30, 1939, and just four months of training by Carothers converted him into a world champion.

Davis sold Jim to Col. C. H. Bacon who left him with Carothers for training. Before his Celebration showing Jim won 12 straight Walking Horse sweepstakes classes.

As a champion he was sold to L. B. Manning, Rancho Piocha, Santa Barbara, Calif., for an almost unheard-of sum. He remained in Tennessee however to win 12 straight sweepstakes and take the State Fair’s Grand Championship in 1940 after he ran second to Haynes Peacock in the second National Celebration.

In 1941 Strolling Jim was taken to California and Carothers showed him in many competitive events. The trainer died June 25, 1944, and Jim was soon sold to Mrs. Elinor Graham of Pittsburgh, Pa. She used him for a saddlehorse, then gave him to Mrs. Floyd Carothers who owned him when he died in 1957. He was buried in a special plot behind Floyd’s Hotel at Wartrace.

Haynes Peacock—(1940-41 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

Age took over the National Celebration in 1940 and its symbol was a 12-year-old gelding, Haynes Peacock, ridden by his owner, Col. Jack L. Haynes. He won the Celebrations in 1940-41 on Peacock to become the only amateur rider to guide a horse to the World Championship in 22 years of Celebration history (as of 1960).

The beautiful chestnut, with no markings of any kind, rose from veritable obscurity in a few short months. As Old Dan, this horse won a sack of flour at the New Hermon horse show in the spring of 1939. He was ridden by Jack Minnette of New Hermon, who used him as a saddlehorse and for farm chores. He was a son of Wilson’s Allen out of a Standard bred mare. He was not registered until 12 years old. T. P. Shelton bought Old Dan from Minette after the New Hermon show, and entered him in a New Smyrna show as Peacock.

The newly named horse won the title. On hand was Colonel Haynes from his famous Haynes Haven farm near Columbia, Maury County. He fell in love with Peacock, bought him on the spot. Soon afterwards he won the Walking Horse horse stake at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

By September, 1940, he had won the National Celebration’s World Championship for his new owner. He repeated for the World’s Crown in 1941 and was permanently retired from competition at an impressive ceremony during the State Fair in Nashville, Sept. 20, 1941.

Prior to this retirement he won at many outstanding shows throughout the South and Southwest.

He was known as a strutting horse and some said he had more bloom than they had ever seen on any horse of any age. Haynes Peacock died at age 16 years and was buried at Haynes Haven Stock Farm. His master later rode other Tennessee Walking Horses to win many blue ribbons and awards, but not another quite like Peacock. Colonel Haynes was buried at Haynes Haven. He died Nov. 16, 1945.

Melody Maid—(1942 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

A Queen took over the Tennessee Walking Horse World Throne in 1942 with Melody Maid earning the crown. She was the first mare to mount this niche in horsedom, and had been a favorite since the previous year. She won as a five-year-old.

Melody Maid was described as a pretty, airy chestnut mare. She, like her two predecessors in the title ring, was sired by Wilson’s Allen and was out of Topsy Kidd. The breeding took place while the dam was owned by J. L. Kidd of Morrison, Tenn., but Mr. and Mrs. Frank D. Rambo of Oakwood Stables, Fayetteville, Tenn., bought the mare before Melody Maid was foaled.

The Maid started winning early, taking the two-year-old filly class at the first National Celebration. She continued this victory sweep on a broad circuit. In 1940 she won the grand championship at the famous LeBonheur Horse Show in Memphis. She repeated there in 1941.

In Kentucky she was grand champion at the state fair, and in 1941 she was Tennessee State Fair grand champion. And she won the top title at the Lexington Junior League Show in 1942.

This accumulation of trophies and ribbons and prizes proved just preparation, however. All that really mattered in the minds of her owners was how she would perform at the National Celebration in 1942.

Melody Maid did not disappoint those who made her an early favorite. Floyd Carothers gave her a matchless ride, and he became the second rider to steer two champions.

Retirement as an undefeated champion came soon after this victory in 1942. She became a highly valuable brood mare. But Melody Maid’s gracious stride and her famous nodding walk remained a fond memory for many who saw her in her prime as a show horse.

Black Angel—(1943 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

A sparkling black mare, Black Angel, proved to be the mud horse of the 1943 National Celebration—winning the Walking Horse World Championship under the most harrowing weather conditions in the 22-year history of this great show. Twice nightly shows were postponed, the whole program was telescoped, as told in the National Celebration chapter.

And Black Angel strode to her championship on a Sunday afternoon with young Winston Wiser saddling his first of five champions (as of 1960). When she won the crown Black Angel was owned by Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Ellis of Orrville, Ala. She became the first champion owned outside of Tennessee.

Black Angel had only one star for a marking. She was bred by Mrs. Fannie Bramblett of Wartrace, and sired by Merry Boy out of Nell Bramblett.

Six weeks after winning her championship, Black Angel was sold by the Ellises to Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Yancey, Blissful Farms, Marianna, Ark. Her price was said to be the biggest ever paid for an individual of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed to that time. S. W. Beech, Jr., of Belfast, Tenn., was trainer at Blissful Farms. He showed Black Angel extensively over the entire South and she won consistently.

On May 10, 1945, she was sold to Mr. and Mrs. David Moreton, Jo-Mo Stables, Brookhaven, Miss., but she remained in Beech’s care.

Knial Kissee of Sparta, Mo., bought her on May 6, 1946. About this time word got around that the big Chicago Horse Show would have Tennessee Walking Horse classes. Beech rode Black Angel to victory there on Nov. 10, 1946. One account said some of the potential entries from that area were held out by owners who figured they had no chance against Black Angel.

Riding Black Angel again, Beech retired the Mona Lorenzo Memorial Challenge Trophy at Jackson, Miss., with three straight years in the victory circle for the championship stake.

The mare became a brood matron, and was the first World’s Grand Champion to have a colt sired by another World’s Grand Champion. She was mated to Midnight Sun for this historic event.

City Girl—(1944 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

A memorable tale surrounds the 1944 Championship of the World, won by a 6-year-old chestnut mare with near hind and fore coronets. She was City Girl and her new owner failed to see her win the big title. He had become disappointed when she placed fourth in the preliminary for the four-year-old mares, and older—so he left for his home in Baton Rouge, La. This owner, M. J. Myer, bought City Girl on April, 1944, from Frank D. Rambo of Oakwood Acres, Fayetteville.

City Girl was another daughter of the great sire, Wilson’s Allen, whose progeny had taken four out of five championships by 1944. Her dam was Una Starnes and the breeder was L. W. Starnes of Decherd, Tenn. The dam and City Girl were bought by Rambo and City Girl was registered in his name.

Urban Small, Jr., trainer and rider, received much credit for City Girl’s sensational triumph. Reports of the 1944 National Celebration say he gave her a faultless ride. Some said it was the finest they ever saw in any show ring, anywhere. It was proof indeed that a rider can be a major factor in determining the championship.

City Girl won championships in four states within four weeks in the 1943 season. She was crowned grand champion of the LeBonheur Show in Memphis for two successive years, 1943 and 1944. She was shown for a time by Floyd Carothers.

Rambo bought back City Girl from Meyer on Sept. 10, 1945, and she became a fine brood mare. Later when Rambo dispersed his Tennessee Walking Horse stock at his spacious Oakwood Acres, he gave City Girl to Urban Small to be his very own. A great horse who received a great ride.

Midnight Sun—(1945-46 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

First stallion to win the Grand Champion of the World crown at the National Celebration proved to be Midnight Sun, who received the floral horseshoes in 1945 and 1946—and later started a reign as one of the all-time great sires of Tennessee Walking Horse history.

Midnight Sun was bred by Charlie Ramsey of Viola, near the spot the first champion, Strolling Jim, was foaled. Midnight Sun was sired by Wilson’s Allen out of Ramsey’s Rena. He arrived on June 8, 1940.

Ramsey sold the colt to John A. Hendrickson of Manchester. The jet black stallion was bought by Harlinsdale Farm on Jan. 21, 1943. Hendrickson injured a leg and the horse was sent to Winston Wiser’s stables for training and showing in 1944.

After the 1944 Celebration he was moved to Harlinsdale Farm where Manager Harlin Hayes trained the horse. Fred Walker rode him to his two successive World Championships.

Midnight Sun became one of the most noted horses of the last half century, and his progeny soon began to make marks for themselves in the show rings, as he retired to stud.

It was said that Midnight Sun’s canter was probably more photographed than that of any other horse prior to the 1950’s.

One statement said: It was a sight long to be remembered when Sun won his championship, for he walked with a straight and speedy running walk with lots of nod, and he had a relaxed and determined flat foot walk.

Merry Go Boy—(1947-48 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

If ever a horse was bred to be a champion, and proved to be just that all the way—such a horse was Merry Go Boy. He became Grand Champion of the World at the 1947 National Celebration, retained the title for 1948 under new owners, and kept up his championship ways in retirement as a sire of great renown.

Merry Go Boy was foaled May 4, 1943, sired by Merry Boy out of Wiser’s Dimples. The breeder was Archie Wiser of Wartrace. As a young colt Winston Wiser and Elroy Mallard saw the young stallion’s possibilities. They bought him immediately and began training him for stardom.

He won the Weanling championship at the 1943 Celebration, won the Yearling title the next year, took the Two-Year-Old championship with Winston Wiser up and as a 3-year-old was the Junior Champion. Then as a 4-year-old he began his Grand Champion reign for two years.

His 1948 title was earned at the then new Celebration Grounds, since expanded to seat more than 15,000 persons, with barn space for more than 900 horses.

C. C. Turner of Broadway, Va., was owner of Merry Go Boy when he won his second crown but Winston Wiser was again in the saddle—making his third title ride.

Fine conformation was featured in Merry Go Boy, who showed three distinct and perfect gaits—being often cited for these accomplishments.

During the last decade Merry Go Boy has sired many high competitors in the World of the Tennessee Walking Horse. He is usually at stud at the S. W. Beech, Jr., farm at Belfast, Tenn.

In the National Futurity of 1960 there were 46 places awarded to young colts and yearlings. Of this number, 24 of the ribbon winners were children of Merry Go Boy.

Midnight Merry—(1949 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

Once again a 3-year-old took the Grand Championship of the World at the National Celebration in 1949. The winner was Midnight Merry, a great mare foaled May 5, 1946, and bred by Mrs. H. Dawson Morgan of Cookeville, Tenn.

She was sired by Midnight Sun out of Merry Giovanni, and was the first Grand Champion of the World crowned as the child of a previous Grand Champion of the World. Midnight Merry was a roan mare with four stockings, a bald face and a mixed mane and tail.

Trained and shown by Steve Hill of Beech Grove, she cut a wide and brilliant path of victory as a young horse.

She carved a new niche in National Celebration history when she became the first mount to win both the Junior Stake and the Grand Championship of the World on successive nights. She also won the preliminary for 3-Year-Old Mares that year (1949).

Midnight Merry was sold May 1, 1950, to W. M. Duncan of Inverness, Miss., but she remained in Steve Hill’s stable for her training and showing.

At age three she had won seven show grand championships prior to Celebration time. She won 106 straight blue ribbons until the 1950 Grand Championship of the World stake at the Celebration where she was tied second to Old Glory’s Big Man.

Midnight Merry was later acquired by Wade Moody of Mt. Airy, N. C., where she also had a most successful season in 1952.

Old Glory’s Big Man—(1950 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

The 1950 National Celebration saw another historic step when Old Glory’s Big Man took the Championship of the World to Quincy, Fla., under the colors of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Budd. He became the first such champion both owned and trained outside the state of Tennessee.

This classy sorrel stallion was bred by Sam Mayberry of Harrisburg, Ark., and was sired by Old Glory out of Nell Mayberry. Big Man was owned by Gene Goff of Fayetteville, Ark., who later moved to Tulsa, Okla.

He began to show marked prowess as a show horse at age two years, under ownership of W. M. Duncan of Inverness, Miss., and Steve Hill of Beech Grove. He took the Two-Year-Old Reserve Championship at the 1947 Celebration. Mr. and Mrs. Budd bought him before the 1948 Celebration at which he won the Junior Championship Stake.

In 1949 he graduated to the Reserve Championship of the World and was a general favorite in the big field when he took the 1950 Celebration Grand Championship of the World.

He won the 1949 Dixie Jubilee championship at Baton Rouge, La., and took it for a second time in 1950. Big Man showed spectacular speed as well as form at the running walk gait.

Although he was placed at stud in Quincy, and bred to several mares, he continued to travel the Southern circuit and collect blue ribbons.

Carl Edwards rode him to the 1950 Celebration Grand Championship and also on many of his other victorious appearances.

Talk of the Town—(1951-52-53 GRAND CHAMPION WALKING HORSE OF THE WORLD)

For three straight years the Maryland-born gelding, Talk of the Town, reigned as Grand Champion of the Tennessee Walking Horse World to climax a trading career that almost parallels that of the famous foundation sire, Allan F-1. Talk of the Town was traded at least six times, once for $200, before he became Grand Champion of the World at the 1951 National Celebration. Twice he repeated this victory to retire the J. L. Haynes Memorial Challenge Trophy. All his world titles came with Steve Hill up, and his owners were L. A. Chemell and E. P. Riley of Gainesville, Ga.

His victory in 1951 was called the hardest contest in Celebration history and the cash purse was the richest ever at $1,000 for first and total prizes of $3,500 for the ten places.

Talk of the Town won at the Kansas City Royal and on the Southwestern circuit. His spectacular speed was most deceptive, with a pace gained by galloping for miles over cotton fields in Arkansas during early training.

The gelding was foaled May 7, 1947, in Salisbury, Maryland, at the stables of Dr. R. M. Nock. He was by Midnight Sun out of Merry Rose. Dr. Nock sold the dam and Talk of the Town to E. G. Moore’s stables in Franklin, Tenn., Moore sold the dam and her colt to Harold Wise and the late C. G. Smith, then partners in a sale barn at Blytheville, Ark.

Wise and Smith soon sold the weanling to E. L. Gregory and Son of Senatobia, Miss. They had him green broke but offered him at the C. G. Smith sale. Jim Crain of Wilson, Ark., bought him for $200. Crain’s chauffeur, George Dawson, trained Talk of the Town and rode him over the cotton