CHAPTER I. 



BRIEF HISTORY OF MY EARLY LIFE — EXPERIENCE 

 DRIVING CALVES — SAW MY FIRST TROTTING 

 RACE — MY FIRST TROTTING HORSE — CONSTRUC- 

 TION OF MY FIRST RACE TRACK — OBJECTIONS OF 

 MY PARENTS TO MY BECOMING A TRAINER AND 

 DRIVER. 



I WAS born on a farm about three miles from 

 Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee, January 25, 

 185 1. My father was a farmer in moderate cir- 

 cumstances, and during my boyhood, in addition to 

 this, he also carried on a small country store at the 

 place. 



My ambition to drive something — such as horses 

 mules, oxen and colts — is associated with my earliest 

 recollection, and when I was a small boy my father 

 unwittingly placed in my hands the power to com- 

 mence the gratification of this desire, by giving me a 

 pair of calves which were the pride of my life, and 

 for the time being satisfied all my desires. Soon after 

 they became mine I commenced their education and 

 training. I first put a rope on the horns of each and 

 drove them around, one at a time, for a few days ; then 

 I thought them well enough broken to drive together. 

 Then I yoked them up, and, to make certain that they 

 would not get away, I tied their tails together hard 

 and fast, and started to drive them down through the 

 grove. They made a plunge or two, when one released 

 his head from the bow and became unyoked, and in 



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