by Sandy Lemons
On a wind-swept hill in Jackson, TN, the famous Tennessee Walking Horse “Merry Boy” was laid to rest in 1957 at age 32. Merry Boy, No. 350189, lived the last 8 years of his life at the former Fair Oaks Farm in Jackson, TN, owned and operated by Jackson businessman George T. Williams.
Fair Oaks Farm was operation from the 1940s to the 1960s, and was located on the old Humboldt Highway, now North Highland. Horse lovers who remember Fair Oaks Farm describe it as one of the most beautiful horse farms in Tennessee. The pastures were surrounded by white wooden fences, covered with red roses, and presented a spectacular sight. This legendary horse lies beneath the same shade trees where he was once exercised by his caretakers. The site was the warm-up arena behind the main barn, which is, sadly, long gone. The tall Oaks that once shaded Fair Oaks Farm and Merry Boy now provide shade and beauty to a residential subdivision.
Owned by George Williams at the time of his death, Merry Boy’s legend continues to build, as Walking Horse lovers research the beginnings of the outstanding sire who possessed the “true walk” of this beautiful breed. Modern-day Walking Horse owners are proud when Merry Boy, or one of his many progeny, still appear on their horse’s papers.
However, a cloud of mystery remains over the horse, not only about the exact dates of his birth and death, but also regarding some ownership dates and physical locations while he stood at stud. It is recorded that Merry Boy was foaled in 1925, although the actual month and day have not been confirmed. Albert M. Dement, of Wartrace, TN, one of the breeders of early Tennessee Walking Horses, bred his mare, “Merry Legs F-4” (foaled in 1911), to James R. Brantley’s “Roan Allen F-38” (foaled in 1904). The result of this union was Merry Boy.
In 1935 several leading Walking Horse breeders from Tennessee formed the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association (TWHBA). They held their first meeting on April 27, 1935, in Lewisburg, TN. The association was chartered in Tennessee on May 11, 1935. The headquarters still remain in Lewisburg today. In 1974 TWHBA became the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA).
Merry Boy was approximately 10 years old when the Breeders’ Association was created. So, in the Breeders’ Association Stud Book, Volume I, which was printed and bound in 1938, some of Merry Boy’s foals were registered with lower numbers than his number #350189. For instance, Merry Boy’s first registered daughter was “Merry Nell” foaled in 1933, and given Registration #350017. The early registration numbers were out of sequence with the foaling dates, but that is now understandable since the Register or Stud Book recordings didn’t begin until 1935.
It has been written that Merry Boy’s grandsire, Allan F-1, “…is the undisputed fountainhead of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breed.” Allan F-1 was originally known as “Black Allan,” his name later changed to “Allan F-1.” Allan F-1 sired Roan Allen F-38, the sire of Merry Boy.
Merry Boy produced many great stallions who became popular breeding and show horses. One of his greatest contributions was the mares that he sired. In the 1940s - 1960s, Merry Boy mares were prominently sought after for the breeding stallions in the Walking Horse world. When these mares were bred to “Wilson’s Allen” and his sons, the result was some of the breed’s best horses. The mating of these two bloodlines was referred to in the Walking Horse industry as the “Royal Cross.”
It is believed that Merry Boy began his stud career at age 3 in 1928, when he sired “Ed Nowlin F-8,” whose dam was “Little Maid” by “Slippery Jim.” Slippery Jim’s dam was “Nell Dement F-3.” Merry Boy is listed as the sire of 766 registered foals. This was the beginning of the Merry Boy influence on the smooth-gaited walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.
The list of accomplishments by Merry Boy’s direct sons and daughters are astonishing. According to the Registry, the following Merry Boy horses were the top 10 producers of his line: No. 1, Merry Goy Boy, with 1,988 foals; No. 2, Merry Maker with 380 foals; No. 3, Old Glory with 282 foals; No. 4, Little Merry Boy, with 280 foals; No. 5, Merry Boy’s F-88, with 216 foals; No. 6, Byrom’s Allen, with 212 foals; No. 7, White Merry Boy, Jr., with 211 foals; No. 8, Blue Namron, with 151 foals; No. 9, Merry Boy’s Knockout, with 129 foals; and No. 10, Black Dust M.R., with 128 foals.
The first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was held in Shelbyville, TN, in 1939. Merry Boy’s daughter “Black Angel” was the 1943 World Grand Champion. Merry Boy’s son, the great “Merry Go Boy,” was the 1947 and 1948 World Grand Champion. At the Shelbyville Celebration from 1949 through 1988, every world grand champion carried the Merry Boy and Wilson’s Allen cross on their pedigrees with the exception of five years -- 1958, 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1970.
During his lifetime, Merry Boy was owned by several prominent horsemen, and a Mississippi horsewoman, who loved him dearly. The original owner and breeder, Albert M. Dement, is thought to have sold or leased Merry Boy sometime in 1933 or 1934 to Addie D. Rhoton of Awalt, TN in Franklin County. The next registered owner on record was J. L. McMichael of the McMichael Brothers Stables in Wartrace, TN. Merry Boy was sold again in 1942 and moved to the Mississippi farm of Mr. and Mrs. William Yandell of Vance, MS, where the Yandells raised and sold mares and foals sired by Merry Boy. Mrs. Yandell sold Merry Boy in early 1949 to George Williams, with whom he lived the remainder of his life at Fair Oaks Farm in Jackson, TN.
Merry Boy continued to sire foals through his 31st year. The Breeders’ Association records his death as January 13, 1957. The stallion’s tenure at Fair Oaks Farm from 1949 -1957 was a special time in the Walking Horse industry. Merry Boy forever made his mark in the annals of history with his progeny.
Join the quest for remembering the legacy of this grand old sire. Anyone with information, photographs, stories familiar about Merry Boy or his offspring is invited to e-mail westwindstables@hughes.net. An “In Remembrance of Merry Boy Celebration” will be held after all the information is collected and compiled.
Author’s Note: Portions of this article were featured in the May edition of TEMPO magazine.
On a wind-swept hill in Jackson, TN, the famous Tennessee Walking Horse “Merry Boy” was laid to rest in 1957 at age 32. Merry Boy, No. 350189, lived the last 8 years of his life at the former Fair Oaks Farm in Jackson, TN, owned and operated by Jackson businessman George T. Williams.
Fair Oaks Farm was operation from the 1940s to the 1960s, and was located on the old Humboldt Highway, now North Highland. Horse lovers who remember Fair Oaks Farm describe it as one of the most beautiful horse farms in Tennessee. The pastures were surrounded by white wooden fences, covered with red roses, and presented a spectacular sight. This legendary horse lies beneath the same shade trees where he was once exercised by his caretakers. The site was the warm-up arena behind the main barn, which is, sadly, long gone. The tall Oaks that once shaded Fair Oaks Farm and Merry Boy now provide shade and beauty to a residential subdivision.
Owned by George Williams at the time of his death, Merry Boy’s legend continues to build, as Walking Horse lovers research the beginnings of the outstanding sire who possessed the “true walk” of this beautiful breed. Modern-day Walking Horse owners are proud when Merry Boy, or one of his many progeny, still appear on their horse’s papers.
However, a cloud of mystery remains over the horse, not only about the exact dates of his birth and death, but also regarding some ownership dates and physical locations while he stood at stud. It is recorded that Merry Boy was foaled in 1925, although the actual month and day have not been confirmed. Albert M. Dement, of Wartrace, TN, one of the breeders of early Tennessee Walking Horses, bred his mare, “Merry Legs F-4” (foaled in 1911), to James R. Brantley’s “Roan Allen F-38” (foaled in 1904). The result of this union was Merry Boy.
In 1935 several leading Walking Horse breeders from Tennessee formed the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association (TWHBA). They held their first meeting on April 27, 1935, in Lewisburg, TN. The association was chartered in Tennessee on May 11, 1935. The headquarters still remain in Lewisburg today. In 1974 TWHBA became the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA).
Merry Boy was approximately 10 years old when the Breeders’ Association was created. So, in the Breeders’ Association Stud Book, Volume I, which was printed and bound in 1938, some of Merry Boy’s foals were registered with lower numbers than his number #350189. For instance, Merry Boy’s first registered daughter was “Merry Nell” foaled in 1933, and given Registration #350017. The early registration numbers were out of sequence with the foaling dates, but that is now understandable since the Register or Stud Book recordings didn’t begin until 1935.
It has been written that Merry Boy’s grandsire, Allan F-1, “…is the undisputed fountainhead of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breed.” Allan F-1 was originally known as “Black Allan,” his name later changed to “Allan F-1.” Allan F-1 sired Roan Allen F-38, the sire of Merry Boy.
Merry Boy produced many great stallions who became popular breeding and show horses. One of his greatest contributions was the mares that he sired. In the 1940s - 1960s, Merry Boy mares were prominently sought after for the breeding stallions in the Walking Horse world. When these mares were bred to “Wilson’s Allen” and his sons, the result was some of the breed’s best horses. The mating of these two bloodlines was referred to in the Walking Horse industry as the “Royal Cross.”
It is believed that Merry Boy began his stud career at age 3 in 1928, when he sired “Ed Nowlin F-8,” whose dam was “Little Maid” by “Slippery Jim.” Slippery Jim’s dam was “Nell Dement F-3.” Merry Boy is listed as the sire of 766 registered foals. This was the beginning of the Merry Boy influence on the smooth-gaited walk of the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.
The list of accomplishments by Merry Boy’s direct sons and daughters are astonishing. According to the Registry, the following Merry Boy horses were the top 10 producers of his line: No. 1, Merry Goy Boy, with 1,988 foals; No. 2, Merry Maker with 380 foals; No. 3, Old Glory with 282 foals; No. 4, Little Merry Boy, with 280 foals; No. 5, Merry Boy’s F-88, with 216 foals; No. 6, Byrom’s Allen, with 212 foals; No. 7, White Merry Boy, Jr., with 211 foals; No. 8, Blue Namron, with 151 foals; No. 9, Merry Boy’s Knockout, with 129 foals; and No. 10, Black Dust M.R., with 128 foals.
The first Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration was held in Shelbyville, TN, in 1939. Merry Boy’s daughter “Black Angel” was the 1943 World Grand Champion. Merry Boy’s son, the great “Merry Go Boy,” was the 1947 and 1948 World Grand Champion. At the Shelbyville Celebration from 1949 through 1988, every world grand champion carried the Merry Boy and Wilson’s Allen cross on their pedigrees with the exception of five years -- 1958, 1961, 1963, 1965 and 1970.
During his lifetime, Merry Boy was owned by several prominent horsemen, and a Mississippi horsewoman, who loved him dearly. The original owner and breeder, Albert M. Dement, is thought to have sold or leased Merry Boy sometime in 1933 or 1934 to Addie D. Rhoton of Awalt, TN in Franklin County. The next registered owner on record was J. L. McMichael of the McMichael Brothers Stables in Wartrace, TN. Merry Boy was sold again in 1942 and moved to the Mississippi farm of Mr. and Mrs. William Yandell of Vance, MS, where the Yandells raised and sold mares and foals sired by Merry Boy. Mrs. Yandell sold Merry Boy in early 1949 to George Williams, with whom he lived the remainder of his life at Fair Oaks Farm in Jackson, TN.
Merry Boy continued to sire foals through his 31st year. The Breeders’ Association records his death as January 13, 1957. The stallion’s tenure at Fair Oaks Farm from 1949 -1957 was a special time in the Walking Horse industry. Merry Boy forever made his mark in the annals of history with his progeny.
Join the quest for remembering the legacy of this grand old sire. Anyone with information, photographs, stories familiar about Merry Boy or his offspring is invited to e-mail westwindstables@hughes.net. An “In Remembrance of Merry Boy Celebration” will be held after all the information is collected and compiled.
Author’s Note: Portions of this article were featured in the May edition of TEMPO magazine.
