Beautiful Jim Key

William Key, a former slave, Tennessee businessman, and self-taught veterinarian, bought an Arabian mare named Lauretta, a mistreated circus horse who was very neglected. William nursed her back to health while peddling Keystone Liniment (a horse medicine). Lauretta foaled a colt and William Key originally intended to give the colt a biblical name, but the foal was so homely and clumsy that he simple called him “Jim” and gave him his own last name, Key.

Jim began picking up tricks he learned from William’s dog: fetch sticks, sit, and roll over. Jim was soon discovered to be able to answer yes and no questions, and was so beloved by the family that he slept on blankets next to them. William was known as a “horse whisperer” and started training Jim in things other than tricks. Over 7 years, he used kindness, patience and rewards to teach Jim to read, spell, recognize money, and do basic arithmetic.

He began tutoring Jim in politics, Bible passages, math, and the alphabet. Jim was able to spell words by putting letters correctly on a rack. He learned enough tricks that he went on the road with William where they’d give comedy performances as part of William’s sales pitch for Keystone Liniment. Jim Key was then accepted as a sideshow act at Tennessee Centennial Exposition, which was a huge deal for Jim AND William, who was making strides in breaking down racial barriers.

Jim amazed the crowd by picking the names of prominent politicians when requested by the audience, filing mail in the correct post office slots, producing correct change from a cash register, & spelling words and names. President McKinley, who saw the act, said: “This is certainly the most astonishing and entertaining exhibition I have ever witnessed.” Notably, Jim Key and William won over animal rights activists with his particular kind and gentle touch with his act.

George Angell, of the MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals declared, “This wonderful horse has upset all theories that animals have only instinct, and do not think and reason.” William started the Jim Key Band of Mercy, a club that facilitated the humane treatment of animals. Jim performed in theatres and music halls around the country and was a hero everywhere he went, collecting keys to cities and endorsements from elected leaders.

Jim even had a sidekick and bodyguard, a stray dog named Monty. Jim was a top seller at the World’s Fair, even performing for Roosevelt’s child Alice. When asked to spell her name, he cunningly attached the surname of her escort, Congressman Nicholas Longworth: “Alice Roosevelt Longworth”. When the couple was married two years later, Beautiful Jim Key was declared to be psychic as well as a genius.

William and Jim retired in 1906, William passed away 3 yrs later at age 76, and had a huge amount of mourners who attended his memorial. He was widely known around the country for breaking down racial barriers, beloved by people everhwere.

In 1912, Beautiful Jim Key died on a cool autumn day, “passing out with all ease,” as Dr. Key’s brother-in-law, Dr. Stanley Davis, wrote to Albert Rogers.