Our Story

Establishment of The American Legion and Post 59

by: Leonard "Lennie" Swingen

In the fall of 1919, Stoughton American Legion Post 59 was formed, with Fred Mattingly serving as the Post's first Commander. The Post was named in honor of Otis Sampson, Stoughton's first casualty of World War I.

Otis Sampson was born in Stoughton on September 7, 1898, the son of Andrew and Elsye Sampson. Less than a week after the United States entered World War I, Otis enlisted in the U.S. Army in Madison on April 12, 1917. He was assigned to the 16th Infantry and was among the first American forces sent to France.

During his service, Otis took part in some of the major battles involving American forces during the war, including Soissons, St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. In June 1918, he was wounded after being exposed to poison gas and spent several weeks hospitalized. After recovering, he returned to his unit and continued serving on the front.

On October 8, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France, Otis Sampson was killed in action. He was just 20 years old. His death came barely a month before the fighting ended on November 11, 1918.

When Stoughton's American Legion Post was organized the following year, its members chose to honor the city's first World War I casualty by naming it The Otis Sampson American Legion Post 59. More than a century later, his name remains part of the identity of the Post and a lasting reminder of the young Stoughton soldier who left his hometown to serve his country and never returned home.

For many years, the Post occupied several locations on Main Street until 1944, when it found a permanent home in the former Congregational Church building at 401 S. Fifth Street. Palmer Henderson was very influential in obtaining a loan to help purchase the building. Many of the Legion members pitched in with both cash donations and manual labor to help remodel the building for use as their clubhouse. The Ladies Auxiliary was very helpful in "dressing up" the building.