Alvin Charles Emerson was born at Wallingford, Rutland County, Vermont, on the 11th day of November, 1858. In 1861 with his parents he moved to Michigan locating at Battle Creek, where he resided until 1876. He attended the public schools at Battle Creek, finishing in the high school in 1876 and in December of that year moved to Utah, locating at Provo. From the spring of 1877 to that of 1880 he was employed as engineer at the Crismon-Mammoth mill at Tinic, the Old Telegraph at Bingham and on the U. & P. V. (now R. G. W.) Railroad. In March, 1880, he was appointed Clerk of the First District Court of Utah, which position he held until 1887, when a change in National Administration changed the Judges of the Court. He moved to Ogden in 1880 where he has since resided.

During the time he was Clerk he read law and in 1875 was admitted to the Bar, and after the expiration of his term as Clerk practiced law with his father, the late Past Grand Master Phillip H. Emerson, for a couple years, but not taking kindly to the law, in 1878 went into the mercantile business which he followed for a number of years. In 1891 he was appointed U. S. Inspector of Customs at Ogden which he held for three years. He was Chairman of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners in 1894, a member of the Board of Education in 1893-4 and re-elected for the years 1895-6, and was President of that board during those two years. During the construction of the Pioneer Electric Company’s pipe line in Ogden canyon he was Chief Inspector of Steel Construction which position he filled until the completion of that work since which time he has devoted his attention to railroading, having been employed by the R. G. W. and U. P. railroads in various capacities. A little more than two years ago he accepted a position with the Armour Car Lines which he now holds, being the State agent for the Armour Car Lines and traveling representative of the Fruit Growers Express and Continental Fruit Express, with territory extending into Oregon, Idaho, Utah Wyoming and Colorado.

On June 28, 1882 he was married to Mary Martindale of La Crosse, Wis., and there have been as issue of such marriage three sons, Phillip H., Charles A. and Ralph M., the latter, a lad of fourteen years being however, the only one surviving.

On April 7, 1881, he presented his petition to Weber Lodge No. 6, F. & A. M. at Ogden to become a Mason. On May 5th he was elected and Initiated an Entered Apprentice, passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on May 13th and raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on June 2nd , same year.

From the report of the Grand Secretary, presented to the Grand Lodge at the Eleventh Annual Communication, held January 17, 1882:
On the 2nd day of last June the M W Grand Master raised his eldest son to the sublime Degree of a Master Mason in Weber Lodge, No. 6, at Ogden. I was determined to make it a festive occasion. And requested the Lodges in the jurisdiction to send a delegation of Brethren to the meeting, whereby not only a ceremony would be witnessed that might not occur again in a lifetime, but which would also show and convince our Grand Master that his labor for and devotion to the interests of Masonry in Utah were appreciated by its members. I am happy to be able to report that each Lodge was represented by three or more members, and thus a tribute of respect was paid our Grand Master, of which he had reason to feel proud. The ceremony itself was as solemn as it was rare, and the officers and members of Weber Lodge showed their guests a hospitality that is seldom equaled and never surpassed. I only wish that our Brother, Alvin Charles Emerson, made a Master Mason under such auspicious circumstances, may follow in the footsteps of his illustrious father as a man and a Mason.

He was elected Secretary of that Lodge in 1882, appointed Senior Deacon 1883-4, elected Junior Warden in 1891, Senior Warden in 1892 and Worshipful Master in 1893 and 1894, and is still a member of that Lodge.

He was appointed Grand Marshal of the M∴W∴Grand Lodge of Utah, January 20, 1892, elected Junior Grand Warden January 18, 1893, Senior Grand Warden January 17, 1894 and M W Grand Master January 16, 1895.

On January 17, 1894 he was appointed Grand Representative of the M W Grand Lodge of Prince Edwards Island near the Grand Lodge of Utah, which he now holds.

During his administration Damascus Lodge at Mt. Pleasant was organized by Dispensation which he granted September 13, 1895, and on January 21, 1896 he signed the Charter of the Lodge as Grand Master.

He is an active member of the Masonic Veteran Association of the Pacific Coast since February 14, 1895, His Grand Lodge Number is 632, Lodge Number 72.

Bro. Emerson was advanced to the more Honorary Degree of Mark Master in Ogden Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., February 18, 1882, inducted into the Oriental Chair and received and acknowledged as Most Excellent Master March 6, 1882, and exalted to the Sublime Degree of a Royal Arch Mason March 18, 1882. He was Chaplain of the Chapter in 1884, Capt. of Host in 1885, Scribe in 1886, King in 1887, and High Priest for the years 1888 and 1889 and Acting High Priest up to 1894. He received the Degrees of Knighthood in Utah Commandery No. 1, K. T. at Salt Lake City, November 16, 1882, and held the office of Warder at the time he was honorably released from Utah Commandery to become a charter member of El Monte Commandery No. 2 at Ogden in 1885, in which he has held the offices of Warder, Senior Warden, Capt. General, Prelate and Imminent Commander.
On June 2, 1902, he will celebrate his Twenty-first anniversary as a Mason, and during all those years there has been but little of the time that he has not held one or more offices in the Masonic bodies and is still in the harness, being Secretary of his Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery.

Brother Alvin Charles Emerson died on January 25, 1926 in Ogden, Utah.