The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-12-14
MUSICAL AFFAIRS.

from the time when lupal IAN ue' |
lighted the early settlers Of earth with rude |
harmony, down through the long ages, even
TO the day aud generation Of the Great Or
van at Boston, musical instruments OF some
Kind have been an indispensable appoint
ment in every well ordered house. Among
the many useless ornaments one often gets
into a residence, a fine Piano, or an Organ,
is the one that always remains "a thing OF
beauty, and a Joy forever The history OF
harmony in this region might be written up
with both pleasure and profit, but must be
toregone until some other occasion, and IN
lieu thereof, will give short history OF long
established aud we'll known business house.
We refer TO the Musical Wsrerooms OF John
Hoyt, Esq 81 Brady street, the pioneer
music dealer of Davenport. In Aprll, l6ol,
this gentleman, with limited capital bat a
clear head aud unlimited amount of pluck,
rought a small, stock Of Pianos and Organs
TO Davenport, and opened store at l4O
| Brady street, under Odd Fellows Hall A
stock OF carriages and buggles was ALSO kept
on hand, they occupying the hrst hooT, and
musical instruments the second. At TINS
time there was no regular warerOom for the
| sale Of instruments, in the city Mr.. John
| zimmerman was engaged in manutaCtur-
ing to some extent, but had no salesroom to
exhibit his productions, 80 that Mr.. Hoys Is
properly the pioneer music dealer of DaveD
port Before purchasing his stock, he be
came convinced Of the superior merits Of
instruments, which at that time seemed
likely to stand the test of time against a.
competitors. These were the "W. 7. Elmer
son Piano" and the "Ilstey Organ" and
eight years of successful business transac
tons have abundantly verified the choice
, In 1866 the carriage business wrs discon
tinued, and the proprietor turned his whole
attention to the sale Of Organs and Pianos
ia the spring of 1868 he moved to his pres
eut location, No. "a Brady street, fine
room, we'll fitted up, and capable of con
, tanning a large number of instruments.
In these eight years Mr.. Hoyt has handIet
. over tlc0 housdnd Pianos and Organs, anc
| this year alone will see over 600, An i'm
, mense trade has been reared since the small
beginning OF 1861. Goods are shipped al
over Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin aud Mime
sofa. ST. Louis also comes in for large
share. Asregards the emerson Piano
and the "Estey Organ they need no re
commentator as they are able to speak foi
themselves, although endorsed by Cots
chalk, List, Thslberg. and host OF brilliant
artists and professionals.
We were shown the first piano sold by
this house, as far back as 1861 it had pass
ed through various hands aud hually back
to the original owner. This instrument has
been in constant use for eight years, and
yet to day the tone is as pure and clear as
any piano in the rooom, just from the man
uiacturers. Any one can examine 1t tor
themselves. MIR. Hoyt also brought the first
Eistey OIgau that came West, and when he
opened his stock here, there was none to be
had further West than Cleveland
One hundred Instruments and more Is moi
small stock to carry, involving as 1t doe'
over thirty thousand dollars, and this is th'
amount represented by pianos and organs
alone, in the house llszes aud styles arr
here exhibited. Organs from ninety five II
seven hundred dollars, and pianos from
J two hundred and fifty upwards. With Sc
large an assortment to select FROM, every
one can find something to suit. Sheet must
d and an endless variety of musical merchan
g disc is ompletely stocked,
Mr.. Hoyt has recently opened store in
this city, in the same building with Waite
J Gates. He has stocked it with an entirely
IL new line of musical instruments and shee
v music from Chicago It is not as Nigh
. be suspicioued tender to the Davenpor
~ Store, but is filed with a new stoc
'e throughout. He is prepared to sell the Eur
is erson the Sttinway and Chickering piano
a as cheap as they can be obtained in Chi
, caro-, and also the beautiful Estey Organ