By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
Reading the minutes of insurance companies is truly a study of history. We’re reminded of this once again as we look at what our founding companies insured during the 1930s, an era of increasing modernization. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Of Electricity, Radio and Foxes
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
By 1925, Wisconsin had been a state for 77 years and becoming increasingly modern. The Great Depression was just around the corner. Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company had both been doing business for over 50 years. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Standardization of Wisconsin Mutuals
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
When Watertown Mutual Insurance Company and Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company were founded their boards of directors served very different purposes than they do today. They managed the day to day operations of their mutuals. They acted as agents selling policies and they adjusted all the claims. Each board met after the January annual meetings to elect officers. They met again in December to close and audit the books. They also met for special meetings when it was necessary to levee assessments or determine payment of claims. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Board Directors and Their Meetings
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
As trendy as barns have become for dance venues, the idea is hardly new. In fact, in 1923 the following resolution was passed at the Watertown Mutual Insurance Company’s annual meeting:
“Whereas during the summer months many barns are used for dances and whereas such undertaking is hazardous to said barn and other nearby buildings because of the use of cigarettes and smoking in general. Be it resolved the buildings and other property on such a farm is not insured from 12 o’clock noon the day of the dance and 48 hours after.” [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Supporting the Community’s Fire Protection
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Insurance Company may have been small companies in rural America during the early decades of 20th century, yet events of the time—state, national and international—had a significant impact on their operations. In February 1913, Congress passed the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution the collection of taxes on income. In October 1917, six months after the United States became involved in World War I, Congress passed the War Revenue Act, which increased income taxes in order to fund the war effort. Both these events had an effect on mutual insurance companies. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Taxes, War and the English Language
By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT
In 1913, Ixonia Mutual presented at its annual meeting a resolution to insure automobiles. It did not pass. Interestingly, in 1914, Watertown Mutual also brought up a resolution to insure automobiles and its voters approved. Not to be outdone by its competitor, Ixonia Mutual reconsidered the idea and in 1915 they introduced their auto coverage. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Insuring Automobiles