Tennessee and North Alabama 115 



than any man of his time except, perhaps, Thomas Alder- 

 son; owned a few brood mares; and took a great interest 

 in turf events. From his father he inherited Madam 

 Tonson, and after her death (as his property) he wrote 

 her obituary, in which he said: 



"The last display of inimitable grandeur she ever exhibited was 

 in my yard. The grooms of Arab and Havoc had been making a dis- 

 play of them both, in view of each other, and they became much 

 excited, threw themselves in lofty attitudes and were dismissed. 

 The old mare had just been turned into an adjoining lot, but was a 

 spectator of what was going on. After the stallions were stabled, 

 the gate was opened; she walked back and no one thought anything 

 more about it, till she walked up to the very spot where those daring 

 fellows had been whatting and coming again. She looked agitated 

 commenced pawing the earth and snorting; at last she raised 

 her full flowing tail, and, for several minutes walked the yard ' with 

 the tread of dominion in her haughty step/ as much as to say, ' Ye 

 peerless steeds, though ye are as the feathered Mercury, look at 

 me, the mother of the Gracchi. Though I am old and near my 

 journey's end, still there will one arise from me (the Phoenix of the 

 West) that will perpetuate my name with my youthful charms.' 



"... I gave her a decent grave, my wife and children all protest- 

 ing against the dogs and buzzards rioting on her carcass." 



Thus did the thoroughbred enter into the hopes, affec- 

 tions and daily life of past generations. 1 



Not the least interesting phase of Cryer's career was 

 the friendship existing between him and President Jack- 

 son, as set forth in the Appendix to this volume. 



Maj. J. R. Hubbard ("Albion"), writing in The Spirit 

 of The Times of a trip to Sumner County early in the 

 i88o's, said this of Rev. H. M. Cryer: 



*' He was a man of strong common sense, and of decided influence 

 with the people. He got into difficulties at one time with his church. 

 He was charged with horse-racing, and summoned to trial before a 

 church tribunal. The proof was clear and conclusive, but the evi- 



1 See Addenda H. 



irit \ 



the 



