GARLAND CHANGES MIND, WILL ACCEPT MILLION DOLLAR INHERITANCE
Buzzard's Bay, Massachusetts (JFK+50) On January 9, 1922, 23 year old Charles A. Garland*, described by the New York Tribune as an "idealist of socialistic leanings," accepted an inheritance of one million dollars left by his father, James A. Garland, Jr.** a few months earlier.
The young socialist had previously rejected the money, but was counseled to change his mind by his attorney. Younger brother Hamilton Garland, who has a week-old daughter, has also agreed to accept his inheritance.
Charles lives in a "tumble-down, almost unfurnished" house christened "April Farm***" located "near here.^ The Garlands have a one year old daughter who will now "have the benefits wealth will give her."
The Garland Estate originated with James Albert Garland, Sr. who was vice president of the First National Bank of New York and organizer and builder of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
^The Tribune news story is datelined Buzzard's Bay but the Recollecting Nemasket Blog says that April Farm was located at East Middleborough 18 miles away. Both are in Plymouth County, MA.
*Charles Albert 'Barley' Garland (1899-1974) was educated at Elon College & Harvard University. CAG set up a national trust (The Garland Fund) to assist efforts in expanding individual liberty. The Fund contributed to such organizations as ACLU & NAACP.
**James Albert Garland, Jr. was a graduate of Harvard & a noted yachtsman. His fortune was left to his wife but her remarriage in 1912 put the money into a trust fund for their sons until age 21.
***April Farm "was a seat of communal living by left-leaning advocates of free love (acceptance of all forms of love & separation of state from sexual matters) & dubious political theories" according to Recollecting Nemasket Blog.
SOURCES
"Free Love at East Middleborough," Recollecting Nemasket, November 12, 2009, www.nemasket.blogspot.com/
"James A. Garland," National Portrait Gallery, www.npg.org.uk/
"Stork's Visit Leads Garlands To Accept Spurned Millions," The New York Tribune, January 10, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
