1854-1855       Address Unknown, Rock Island, Illinois.

A. H. Taylor was recorded in two advertisements Rock Island Weekly Advertiser (Rock Island, Illinois).  The first advertisement ran on December 27, 1854 & January 3, 1855.  Beautiful Ornamented Daguerreotypes, By A. H. Taylor.

“Ah! See what a picture, behold what a grace,

Lives in that posture and beams in that face!

As the sunlight transfers the soul speaking eye.

It flashes in joy, tho’ there’s nobody nigh,

Who nobody is, there’s no need to tell,

Since the Lassie herself knows the secret so well,

Enough that we trace in such toughing  perfection.

The “Intended”—an object of cherished affection.”

Mr. A. H. Taylor, Daguerrean Artist, would respectfully announce to the citizens of Rock Island and vicinity, that he has leased the new sky Light Daguerrean Gallery, formerly occupied by Mrs. Frost, situated, situated on Illinois st., two doors East of Buford’s Block, and nearly opposite the Graham House, where he is ow prepared to secure to them Fac Similes of any one or ay thing they may see fit to bring forth for Daguerreotyping, in the latest and most approved styles that the art can produce.

Our pictures, in point of tone, richness, and life like beauty, have received the highest praise among the first Artists of the day, of ay style of Daguerreotypes ever exhibited to the public.

Persons who admire our Pictures, and are [unintelligible] with our prices, can be accommodated with a sitting at short notice.  Visitors received at all hours of the day.  Hours of sitting fr4om 9 A. M. to 3 P. M.  Dark drapery is always preferable.

Prices of pictures $1.50 and upwards.

Mr. Taylor feels confident that his Pictures will recommend [themselves] far better than anything he can say in print, therefore ho cordially invites all lovers of this beautiful Art to visit his rooms and compare his work with that of other Artists, both “far and near,” and extend to him that amount of patronage he merits.  He desires nothing more.

P. S.—Instructions given in the Art, and apparatus furnished if desired.

The second advertisement ran from January 10 to June 27, 1855.  Beautifully Ornamented Daguerreotypes, By A. H. Taylor.

Go gentlemen go, go ladies and children,

Go all ye who love the fine arts,—

Now in Rock Island we have a Daguerrean—

That Skill to the science imparts.

I am sure he is bound to excel

Any that’s been here before—

His specimens you’ll see are done well,

And like Them he can take many more.

Come ye country girls with your fair faces

And sit and your shadows he’ll take,

And ye city belles with your fine graces

More beautiful in pictures he’ll make.

And the widows who are so bewitching—

I’m sure they’d better be fleet, 

For ‘twill save them a deal of hard fishin

To Hang up their busts in the street.

And the bachelors with their wry faces,

I think would look better too,

If they’d be taken in smiles and in graces,

Than to always be seen in a skew.

I’m sure that the artist of Greece,

Or the famed Parhassius of old,

Their patrons no better did please,

For the same small quantity of gold.

Now mind don’t forget thee, I pray,

If you wish for a picture that’s true,

And of some Other place stray,

Where the business they only half do.

A. H. Taylor,—the best in the place,

We know a good artist to be;

If you disbelieve us, we ask you to please

Walk up and his specimens see.  From A Patron.

Persons who admire our Pictures, and are suited with our prices, can be accommodated with a sitting at short notice.  Visitors received at all hours of the day.  Hours of sitting from 9 A. M. until 3 P. M.—Dark drapery is always preferable.

Prices of pictures $1.50 and upwards.

Mr. Taylor feels confident that his Pictures will recommend themselves far better than anything he can say in print, therefore he cordially invites all lovers of this beautiful Art to visit his rooms and compare his work with that of other Artists, both “far” and “near,” and extend to him that amount of patronage he merits.  He desires nothing more.

P. S.—Instructions given in the Art, and apparatus furnished, if desired.  Dec. 23, 1854.

A. H. Taylor was also recorded in two other Rock Island, Illinois newspapers.  The first is the Rock Island Daily Advertiser, where the second advertisement ran from February 6 to July 6, 1855.  The second newspaper, also carried the second advertisement, and appeared on April 25, 1855 in the Weekly Rock Island Republican.  Craig’s Daguerreian Registry does list an Alfred H. Taylor as being active in Davenport, Iowa in 1856-1859.  Davenport, Iowa is just across the Mississippi River from Rock Island, Illinois. He was also recorded in A Directory of Early Illinois Photographers as being active in Quincy Illinois in 1868 in partnership of Taylor & Seavey.  It is possible they are the same person.