Jim was a Llewellyn setter born of pureblood champion field stock in Louisiana.  Though his litter mates were selling for $25 each, a goodly sum in 1925, he was considered the most unlikely of the litter and came into Sam VanArsdale's hands for less than half that amount.  Attempts to train Jim for the field seemed futile as he lay in the shade watching while the trainer worked with three other dogs.  However, when taken into the field that Fall for the first time, he immediately went to a convey of quail, came up on perfect point, held steady till the quail was shot, and immediately brought the birds to Mr. VanArsdale on the order of "Fetch".  He proved to be a marvelous hunting dog, knowing where there was quail, and refusing to hunt where there were none.  His master, an avid hunter who traveled from state to state hunting, kept track of birds shot over his beloved dog.  He stopped counting at 5,000, a total no other dog ever reached.  Outdoor Life Magazine termed him "The Hunting Dog of the Century.

    However, Jim was much more than just a champion hunting dog.  While in the field, Mr. VanArsdale discovered, quite by accident, that his dog could understand what he was saying to him and carried out his commands.

    It was a hot day and Mr. VanArsdale said, "let's go over and rest a bit under that hickory tree."  Although in a woods of numerous kinds of trees, Jim went to the hickory.  Surprised by this, he asked Jim to go to a walnut, then a cedar, a stump, and a tin can, which he did rapidly and perfectly.  This was the start of the amazing things the dog did on command.  When told to do so, he could go out on the street and locate a car by make, color, out-of-state, or a license number.  From a crowd, he could select the "man who sells hardware", the one who "takes care of sick people", or "visitor from Kansas City".

    He carried out instructions given to him in any foreign language, shorthand, or Morse Code.  He was capable of predicting the outcome of future events:    he chose the winner of the Kentucky Derbies, the World Series and the sex of unborn babies. 

    Jack L. Jolly, Pettis County Representative, invited Jim to perform a joint session  of the legislature.  Among other things, he designated the man in the crowd who was playing cards when they came in".

    Mr. Van Arsdale arranged for a demonstration at the University of Missouri with Dr. Durant, head veterinarian.  He was assisted by Dr. Sherman Dickinson.  They could find nothing physically abnormal from any other dog.  He was then tested by a group of college students and passed each command with flying colors.

    In 1935 Jim performed at the Kemmerer Hotel in Kemmerer Wyoming.  after his successful performance, an article was written in the Gazette of Kemmerer on Friday, August 30, 1935, telling of this performance and referring to Jim as "The Wonder Dog".

    At the State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri, Gene Moses of Joplin, Missouri, asked Mr. VanArsdale for a demonstration.  He asked "Jim go and show us who plays the tuba".  Jim went to the owner of the tuba and placed his paw on him.  Then, "Jim, show us a red-headed woman."  Jim went through the crowd and raised a paw in front of her, but did not touch her.

    Newspaper and magazine writers came to witness Jim and were stunned.  They wrote of the incredulous things they saw, and Jim's fame spread across the United States and elsewhere.  He was featured in Ripley's Believer It or Not.

    Jim passed away march 18, 1937 and is buried in Marshall's Ridge Park Cemetery with a gravestone, and is probably the only animal in a "people" cemetery.  caretakers say his is the most visited grave there and is seldom without flowers and coins left on it.

    There is a statue of Jim placed in the "Jim the Wonder Dog Garden Park" located on Lafayette Street, just off the northwest corner of the Marshall Square, along with many of the stories and eyewitness accounts about Jim's talents.  The park sits on the original site of the Ruff Hotel.  You can learn more about Jim the Wonder Dog and other saline County History by visiting the Saline County Historical Museum (660-886-7546) housed in the building next door to the Jim the Wonder Dog Park or by visiting www.jimthewonderdog.com