A jeweler and silversmith, Thomas Emerson was working in Lafayette as early as 1857. He was a native of New Hampshire, and apparently arrived in Indiana with a substantial amount of capital, for in 1860 the Federal Census for Tippecanoe County showed that he had assets of some eleven thousand dollars. He became a leading jeweler in Lafayette and his shop flourished there at least until 1871. Silver spoons bearing the mark of T.P. Emerson are extant and were likely made by his establishment.