THE EMERSON CLAIM While Dr. John Emerson was serving his country as surgeon to the garrison at Fort Armstrong the tide of immigration set strongly to the newly opened Black Hawk Purchase and carried him across the river to Davenport, his assignment as surgeon allowing him some little latitude of action.  Here he built a substantial brick residence which still standing is numbered as 219 on East Second street.  A view of this relic of early days appears in this work.  From the signs generously plastered thereon it can be surmised that in this lowly condition it is a warehouse of the Iowa Telephone Company.  While at Fort Armstrong Dr. Emerson entered a claim on the banks of the river, next east and adjoining the claim taken up by George L. Davenport, the first claim entered upon in the Black Hawk Purchase.  Upon this claim Dr. Emerson built a shack and installed therein his slave Dred Scott to occupy and make good all rights of a claimmaker.  'At that time this region was in the territory of Michigan.  Later, July 4, 1836, it became Wisconsin.  Upon this Davenport residence, or rather, stay in Bettendorf, Scott in his famous suit for freedom predicated residence in Michigan and Wisconsin, free territory.  When the Fort Armstrong garrison was transferred to Fort Snelling, Dr. Emerson accompanied the troops.  Later he came to Davenport, sold his claim for one thousand dollars, and returned to St. Paul, taking Dred with him.  This strengthened Dred's case later by a stay in Minnesota.  When Dr. Emerson died his remains were buried in Antoine LeClaire's cemetery where LeClaire street crosses Sixth.  After the bodies here buried had been removed to St. Mary's churchyard and the City cemetery in West Davenport this location became the site of the fine old residence of our historian, Willard Barrows. In the Gazette of date May 4, 1843, was published the following professional card:  "Dr. John Emerson offers his professional services to the citizens of Davenport and surrounding country.  He may be found at present at the LeClaire House."  In the issue of the same paper which appeared on the evening of January 4, 1844, was this notice:  "Died-On the evening of December 28, 1843, John Emerson, M. D., aged forty years, late surgeon in the army of the United States." Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L