Alvin H. Olson

Alvin Hobart Olson was part of the generation of World War I veterans who returned home and became deeply involved in the civic life of Stoughton. His years in the community included service to the American Legion, business ownership, work with the Chamber of Commerce, and later public service with the State of Wisconsin.

Olson was born September 29, 1899, in Rio, Wisconsin. By the time of his World War I registration in September 1918, the 18-year-old Olson was living in Brooklyn, Wisconsin, and working as a typist. He later served in the United States Army.

Olson eventually made Stoughton his home. A later newspaper account noted that he had lived in the city for nearly twenty years and had worked his way through school by clerking in stores, working in factories, and taking other jobs to finance his education. He graduated from Stoughton High School with honors and attended the University of Wisconsin for two years. He was also associated with Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and the honorary journalism fraternity Delta Pi Delta.

In the 1920s, Olson and his older brother Lloyd operated The News Cafe at 114 E. Main Street in Stoughton. He later worked at Falk's Drug Store and became secretary of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce. In early 1928, while serving as Post 59 commander, Olson opened his own general insurance agency in Stoughton.

Olson's involvement with Otis Sampson Post 59 developed quickly. After serving for a year as Post Adjutant, he was elected commander in late 1927, succeeding P. F. "Pat" Donahue. He led the Post during the 1928–1929 period.

His tenure came during an important period of growth for the young American Legion organization. A 1928 newspaper account reported that when Olson had first become an officer, Post 59 had 86 members. By the time he stepped away from his leadership position, membership had grown to nearly 250 members.

Olson also worked to bring the Legion's message before the larger Stoughton community. In early 1929, he announced a month-long display of American Legion posters on billboards throughout Stoughton commemorating the organization's first decade. Olson described the effort as a way of presenting the Legion's ideals and its commitment to service in both war and peace, including community service, Americanism, political education and child welfare.

His Legion service extended well beyond Stoughton. While serving as Post 59 commander, Olson was appointed Dane County Commander of the American Legion. The appointment placed him in a leadership role involving Legion posts throughout Dane County and made him a liaison between those posts and the district organization. Contemporary reports described the appointment as recognition of the high regard in which Olson was held within the Legion.

Olson eventually resigned his Post leadership position when he became a candidate for Stoughton city clerk. A contemporary newspaper editorial supporting his candidacy pointed to both the dramatic growth of Post 59 during his involvement and his work as secretary of the Chamber of Commerce as examples of his community service.

On December 26, 1923, Olson married Alida Perrizo, a Fond du Lac native and schoolteacher, at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Newspaper accounts later noted that the couple had a daughter.

By the time of his World War II draft registration in 1942, Olson was living in Madison with his wife Alida and working for the State of Wisconsin Public Service Commission, showing that his career in public service continued well beyond his years in Stoughton.

Alvin H. Olson's time with Post 59 came relatively early in the Post's history, less than a decade after the American Legion itself was founded. Yet the surviving records show a commander who was active not only within the Post but throughout the community. He helped build Post 59's membership, promoted the Legion's mission publicly, served as Dane County Commander, participated in Stoughton's business community, and carried the spirit of service into his civilian career.

His story is a reminder that the early success of Otis Sampson Post 59 was built by World War I veterans who returned home and continued serving their communities. Alvin H. Olson was one of those veterans.