Algodt "Al" C. Anderson (September 24, 1860 – May 31, 1949) was aSwedish American immigrant, businessman, andprogressiveRepublican politician. He was a member of theWisconsin Senate, representing the29th Senate district from 1917 through 1923.

Algodt C. Anderson was born inSkövde,Sweden, in September 1860. As a child, he emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1872, settling on a farm just outside Menomonie Junction—the settlement later incorporated as the city ofMenomonie, Wisconsin. Through the remainder of his childhood, he worked on his father's farm and attended school in the winters.^[1]

In 1877, he learned thebarber trade and started a barber shop the next year inClear Lake, Wisconsin. In 1879, he moved toRiver Falls, Wisconsin, where he operated a successful barber shop until 1892. In 1893, he returned to Menomonie and went into business with his brother in acigar manufacturing business. The business flourished into a significant wholesaler and dealer of cigars and other tobacco products, known as Anderson Bros, Inc.^[2] He continued the business for most of the rest of his life.^[1]

One of his most lasting contributions to the state occurred before he entered state office. In 1914, he convinced then-governorFrancis E. McGovern to build the Stout Home Economics building on the campus of the Stout Institute in Menomonie, which was a significant factor in establishing the state relationship with the school which later became theUniversity of Wisconsin–Stout.^[1]

In 1916, Anderson decided to enter the special election to replace deceased state senatorGeorge E. Scott. He faced a competitive Republicanprimary against state representativeAxel Johnson and bank president Frank Pierce. Anderson ultimately prevailed in the primary with 47% of the vote and went on to easily win the general election in the heavily Republican district.^[3] He was re-elected to a full four-year term in the Senate in 1918, not facing any opposition in the primary or general election. In the 1919 session of the legislature, he served on the influential Joint Finance Committee.^[2]

During his final term in the Senate, he was appointed to theWisconsin Highway Commission for a six-year term, and was then elected chairman of the Highway Commission, serving from 1925 until the end of his term in 1927.^[1]

In 1929, he moved into another government post when he was chosen as a trustee of the Dunn County Asylum, where he remained until 1936. He was then elected a trustee of theMabel Tainter Memorial Society and, the following year, trustee of theEvergreen Cemetery Association. He also served several years on the board of directors of the Kraft State Bank.^[1]

Anderson was active inFreemasonry and was master of the Menomonie lodge for several years.^[1]

Algodt Anderson married twice. His first wife was Josephine Wisher of Menomonie, who he married in 1884. She died in 1892. He subsequently married Mary Francis "Minnie" Scanlan on June 20, 1895. Their marriage lasted 44 years before her death on October 18, 1939.^[1]

Algodt Anderson died on May 31, 1949, at his home inMenomonie, Wisconsin. He was interred at Menomonie's Evergreen Cemetery.^[4]

• 1860 births
• 1949 deaths
• Swedish emigrants to the United States
• People from Skövde Municipality
• People from Menomonie, Wisconsin
• Republican Party Wisconsin state senators
• 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata