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World Grand Champion in 1939 |
First
Grand Champion Walking Horse of the World, Strolling Jim and his
illustrious career made famous the names of the Tennessee Walking
Horse and the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration
throughout the country. The most rapid growth of the
breed took place during the years when Jim was in his prime.
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Strolling Jim was foaled in 1936 and was bred by Ed Gilliam near
Viola, Tennessee. He was a chestnut gelding with a
near hind sock, a star and a snip. He was a
three-year-old when he won Grand Championship honors at the first
Celebration in 1939. His dam, Allen's Strolling
Jennie, was by Mabrey Allen, and he, by Roan Allen F-38.
Jim's sire was old Wilson's Allen, also by Roan Allen F-38, making
him a double grandson of old Roan Allen. |
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As a
colt, Strolling Jim was much the same as any other young horse of
his time. He was broken at an early age to a wagon and
was taught to help with the general farm chores of the day.
Later sold to Charlie Ramsey of Viola, Strolling Jim was worked
daily to a plow, and several other farm implements, and was often
ridden by Mr. Ramsey over the farm, for it was soon noticed that
Strolling Jim walked with lots of speed and comfort to his rider.
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During this time, Henry Davis, a pioneer breeder and dealer in
walking horses, and Floyd Carothers, top trainer of his day, had a
training barn in Wartrace, and these gentlemen had heard what an
outstanding green-broke colt Mr. Ramsey had there on his farm.
Floyd and Mr. Henry journeyed to Viola to see Strolling Jim and
bought him immediately after seeing him work. This was
on April 30, 1939.
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Floyd
Carothers started working this young prospect daily under saddle
and, before too long, crowds were flocking to the barn to see if
Strolling Jim really was the coming young champion that was being
predicted by other visitors.
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Strolling Jim was sold afterwards to Col. C. H. Bacon, Loudon,
Tennessee but was left with Floyd to further his training and to
be exhibited at the coming shows. Before the first
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in 1939, Strolling
Jim had been shown over the South to win twelve straight walking
horse sweepstake classes. Jim was sold next to L. B. Manning,
Rancho Piocha, Santa Barbara, California in 1940 at a price almost
unheard of in that day. In 1940 he won twelve straight
big stakes and, that year, was also crowned Grand Champion at the
Tennessee State Fair Show in Nashville.
(Photo submitted
by
Judy Crunk of Green Valley Farms)
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Strolling Jim was in great demand by show committee members and
horse show managers, and he was exhibited at many of the local shows
to halter. His last show in competition under saddle was
at the 1948 Celebration when, as a twelve-year-old and out of
training for over a year, he tied fourth in an outstanding class for
lady riders.
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Strolling Jim was welcomed by a host of his fans when he returned to
Wartrace, Tennessee in 1947. He retired to his stable
there behind the famous Walking Horse Hotel.
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| Strolling Jim, the first winner of the famed
Celebration returned to Middle Tennessee on July 22 to participate
in festivities at the Wartrace, Tennessee Horse Show. He was flown
from Pennsylvania, his present home, to Nashville, Tennessee in a
C-47. |
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Shown at left as he was about to be transferred from
the plane to a van at Berry Field, Nashville, he is pictured with
Mrs. Eleanor Graham (left) of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, his present
owner, and Mrs. Floyd Carothers of Wartrace, Tennessee, wife of
the late Floyd Carothers, first trainer of Strolling Jim. |
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Today
Strolling Jim rests beneath the bluegrass sod just behind the
historic old hotel in Wartrace, Tennessee that he helped make
famous. The courageous old champion, twenty-one years of
age that year, died on April 23, 1957 and his passing marks the end
of one of horsedom's most fabulous eras. |
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Strolling Jim, the famous gelding which made
Walking Horse history when he was crowned World's Champion at the
first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration at Shelbyville,
Tennessee in 1939, has come back to Wartrace, Tennessee to spend
his remaining days at his old home. As a matter
of fact, "Jim" is now living in the same stables from which he
went to capture the coveted title in 1939. The late
Floyd Carothers of Wartrace, renowned breeder and trainer of fine
Tennessee Walking Horses, trained and showed Strolling Jim.
Strolling Jim is now the property of Mrs. Olive Carothers, widow
of the late Floyd Carothers. |
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Mrs. Carothers was presented the famous gelding by
Mrs. Eleanor Graham of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania and Florida. Mrs.
Graham had owned and successfully shown Jim on the Eastern and
Florida Horse Show circuits. She gave the horse to Mrs. Carothers
earlier this spring, with the understanding that the gelding was
not to be shown competitively any more. Since receiving the horse
however, Mrs. Carothers had no end of enjoyment exhibiting "Jim"
in a few Middle Tennessee shows.. just as a special attraction and
not for competition. Pictured here is Mrs. Carothers
with Strolling Jim, the day the gelding was given a grand
"homecoming" welcome at Wartrace. |
Several score of Middle Tennessee
horsemen were on hand to see Strolling Jim and to congratulate
Mrs. Carothers on receiving the handsome gift. During the brief
welcoming ceremony which was under the direction of Gilbert M. Orr
of Columbia, numerous gifts were bestowed on Strolling Jim and
Mrs. Carothers by some of their many friends. Gifts included a
saddle, bridle, blanket, and even some feed for the horse, and an
attractive riding habit for Mrs. Carothers.
'Most any day now, you can find "Miss Olive" riding Strolling Jim
somewhere along the beautiful bridle paths around Wartrace. And
you can bet she is enjoying every minute riding and owning one of
the most famous of all Tennessee Walking Horses!.
THE TENNESSEE WALKING HORSE, July 1947 |
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Stables behind the Wartrace Hotel where Strolling
Jim was kept. |
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Strolling Jim's gravesite. |
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If you wish to print off
this pedigree, click
HERE
to load a black and white copy. |
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If you have a story or
photos of Strolling Jim that you would like added to this page,
please forward them to
Walkers West.
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----- Original Message
-----
From: Chad Partin
Email: cpartin@coffeecountytn.org
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2012 11:06 PM
Subject: Feedback From Walkers Website
Hi, my name is Chad Partin. I am a detective with the Coffee County
Sheriff s Dept in Tn. My grandfather was Ed Partin. He was a farmer
and store owner in the Prairie Plains community of Coffee County.
This area is the starting point of TWH. Grandad had a peddling wagon
in the 20's and 30's. The Brassfield family ,who lived near by, had
this young colt one day and asked if he could use him to pull the
wagon with a mare he had. So he took the colt and used him for some
time. During this time the colt would jump, strut and would not ever
stay in stride with the old mare. About a year later Mr. Brassfield
came to the store and my grandfather told him that the colt was a
show off and was not fit to pull the wagon (so the story goes) and
sold him back to Brassfield. He in turn sold him to Mr. Ramsey of
Viola, Tn not far up the road. That colts name turned out to be
Strolling Jim. I have a picture of him and grandad with the peddling
wagon. The Ramsey family has always claimed they raised Jim but in
fact the Brassfield family did. The barns are all still standing and
are just a few miles from Wilson Allen's farm. I was just playing
and found your web site and thought it was very nice. Would love to
share the pic with you for the site if you like.
Thanks
Chad Partin Manchester, Tn
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Chad
What a great story - I was not aware of this. I will pass this along
to my webmaster to add to Strolling Jim's page. Would love to see
any pictures that you have of the barns and of Strolling Jim at that
time. Thank you so much for writing.
Mary Ellen Areaux
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1940-41 ==>
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