Jessie May Ward Garlock had a vivid imagination. It took her around the world and often to huge concert halls. Her musical vision was to play a massive pipe organ to crowds of thousands. At the age of nine she spent rainy and snowy days indoors, practicing on the smooth maple table in the dining room of the Ward House. The imaginary instrument took her to Paris, London, and New York where she performed to huge crowds, giving her standing ovations.
Although she eventually mastered the piano, playing mostly hymns and for her own amusement--it was Edward who seemed to have an inherent musical gift. Without lessons of any kind--he was skilled in bringing music out of any instrument he chose to play. Whether foot-stomping music on his fiddle or giving resounding notes from a trumpet--he seemed to master them all. Starting out, playing the fiddle to entertain a group of drunken frat boys, when only 9, he graduated to dance halls and taverns as a favorite of the customers.
It was an unwritten law that if you were one of the Garlock boys--you would play some type of horn. My father, David, chose the trombone. Others took up the trumpet or cornet. Wesley favored the guitar and piano. Esther became so proficient as a pianist--she was snatched up by the infamous, Aimee Semple McPherson to play for her tent crusades throughout New England and upstate New York. All had a natural ear for music. It was their father who nurtured this, (especially after a life-changing experience), with Jessie's encouragement.
It amazes me to see the abundance of musical talent in the third, fourth, and now even fifth generation "Garlocks". There are cousins by the dozens--many are accomplished musicians! While two of my brothers and many of my grandchildren fall into this category--I do not. :(
I imagine music will be heard from skilled and gifted Garlocks for years to come. Inherited from Edward? Very possible!
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