Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Louisville, Ohio; St. Louis, Missouri; New York, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; and Cincinnati, Ohio
William Cumming Peters 

Boxwood, brass, ebony
ca. 1846-1866
Length: 26in; Bell diameter: 3.25 in
Wind Instruments – Woodwind Instruments – Single Reed

Stamped on each joint: W. C. PETERS / SONS/ CINCINNATI/ (OHIO)

A Bb boxwood and ivory clarinet stamped W. C. Peters (1805-1866).  Peters was a composer, arranger, organist, teacher, choir master, clarinetist, music merchant, and music publisher.  Born in 1805, he immigrated with his parents from Woodbury Devonshire, England, to the New World at age 15 in 1820.  His studied music from his father but was mostly self-taught.  He opened his first music store in 1825 in Pittsburgh and became one of the first music professionals in Western Pennsylvania.  As a music teacher, he gave piano lessons in the Pittsburgh region.  His students included Stephen Foster’s older sisters. He also led church choirs, gave concerts, and became the publisher for the songs of Stephen Foster and Henry Russell.

According to Pittsburgh Music History:

“George Rapp’s Harmony Society, based in Harmony, Pa., employed Peters as an arranger and composer, commissioning him to compose the two-movement “Symphony in D” in 1831.  According to some historians it may have been the first symphony composed and performed in America.  Other of Peter’s original compositions were “Citizens Guards’ March” (1841); “Sweet Memories of Thee” (1839), and “Kind, Kind and Gentle Is She” (1840), Peters also wrote music for the Roman Catholic Church, including a Mass in D.”

“In 1832 Peters moved to Louisville to start a music school and music library.  He founded the music publishing business Peters & Co in 1840 that published the songs of Stephen Foster and Henry Russell.  Foster gave Peters several of his songs to publish including “Susanna,” “Louisiana Belle,” and “Old Uncle Ned.”  Reportedly Peters earned over $10,000 from the sale of Foster’s music. Those profits enabled Peters to grow his business.  Moving to Cincinnati in 1851 Peters formed the W. C. Peters & Sons company that became one of the most influential music publishing firms of the nineteenth century.  With partners including his son, John L. Peters, he opened other publishing companies in Baltimore, New York, and St. Louis.”

See:  https://sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/teachers-and-schools/w-c-peters for more details on the life, publications, and accomplishments of W.C. Peters.

According to the New Langwill Index, in 1846 he was established as ‘W.C. Peters & Co.” in Cincinnati, Ohio, which is stamped on this clarinet. He was a pianoforte and wind instrument dealer (importer of instruments).  In 1866, the company was bought by Oliver Ditson & Co.