AMHERST ~ DRUMS ~ NOBLE AND COOLEY

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES 

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American History, Brick Walls, Charts and Maps, Collections, Critical Analysis, Family Stories, Genealogical Writing, Research Methods and Tips. _______________________________________________________________

an Unidentified boy in Union zouave uniform with drum, a hand-colored half-plate ambrotype from the American Civil War era (between 1861 and 1865). 

recently came across this sentimental story written by a Confederate officer while imprisoned at Johnson's Island which tells the sad tale of an orphaned boy from Fredericksburg who became a drummer in a Virginia regiment. I imagine that this story is inspired by real child.

 "Arthur Murray, Our Little Hero, or the Drummer-Boy of the Rappahannock https://archive.org/stream/sunnylandorpriso00jone#page/274/mode/2up/search/Peeler

Civil War Drummner photograph and memorial
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=sh&GRid=5028238

Noble & Cooley is an American musical instruments manufacturing company based out of Granville, Massachusetts. Having been established in 1854, it is the oldest drum company in the United States and is one of the oldest in the world. Having manufactured toy drums at the beginning, Noble & Cooley soon entered the professional drum market. Noble & Cooley has specialized in snare drums, although the company also manufactures whole drum kits. The company is still a family business, with a Cooley's descendant presiding it. Silas Noble, a farmer, had started producing toy drums in his kitchen to give as Christmas presents. He soon joined his friend James Cooley to build marching snare drums for the Union Army during the Civil War. In the company's first year, 631 toy drums were built. They were simple instruments made of plain wood and painted. By 1873, the company produced 100,000 drums a year.

G.N. Moses in ConnecticutActive Period: Circa 1854–1859.Studio Location: Rooms located opposite the McDonough House in Middletown, CT.Partnerships: Worked with or late with the firm Bundy & Williams before advertising his own local operations specializing in daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and photographs.

 

Moses, Dren, Connecticut 

Michael Lehr