August 7, 2017

By the Minutes: Changes of Bylaws, 1875-1899

Photo used with permission from the book Heritage of Ixonia, by Carl and Alida Jaeger.

By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT

The bylaws of any mutuals are its insurance policy and throughout the years they change to meet the times. This was true in the 19th century and the early days of Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, when one of the more interesting items addressed was the ownership of farm steam engines. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Changes of Bylaws, 1875-1899

July 19, 2017

By the Minutes: A Year of Neighbor Helping Neighbor: 1885

Jefferson County, WI sawmill

This photo is used with permission from the book Heritage of Ixonia, Vol 1, and is of a sawmill owned by O.H. Wills and Mr. Gulliskson. It likely is similar to the Piper Gibb & Co. mill which was lost by fire in 1885. Local sawmills were necessary providers of lumber for the construction of homes and barns.

By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT

As much as we enjoy our Wisconsin summers, we all know the improbability of the weather. Thunderstorms, lightning, and even tornados are events we Midwesterners unfortunately must deal with. For the insurance industry, these often mean mass damage and expensive payouts. In the 1880s, neither Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company or Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company offered coverage for storm damage. But they knew the difficulties of large payouts due to the ravages of fire. Last month, we learned how in 1879 Ixonia Mutual used an assessment to help finance a large payout. In 1885, the company was once again challenged with a series of losses, each of them beyond the capabilities of the company’s treasury. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: A Year of Neighbor Helping Neighbor: 1885

June 26, 2017

By the Minutes: Early Challenges for a Young Mutual

In the late 1800s, to become a policyholder of either Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company or Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, one was required to sign an undertaking. The undertaking bound them and their heirs to a pro rata share of all losses, which was a percentage based on the amount for which their policy was insured. After a loss occurred the board of directors would levee the assessment to pay for the loss. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Early Challenges for a Young Mutual

May 31, 2017

By the Minutes: Supporting Dairy in the Late 1800s

Ixonia Creamery, circa 1880s

This photo is taken from the book Heritage of Ixonia,

By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT

June is National Dairy Month and Forward Mutual takes great pride in supporting Wisconsin’s long-cherished industry. In fact, our dairy heritage goes way back to the late 1800s when our founding companies insured not only the local farmers, but also their butter and cheese factories.

Here’s how that came about. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Supporting Dairy in the Late 1800s

May 22, 2017

By the Minutes: A Mutual’s First Claim

A ewe and two lambs were the first losses filed to Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Ixonia, WI

Perhaps there’s no greater measure of time than the comparison of costs. This is certainly true when we look at the early days of our founding mutuals—Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Let’s see how they handled their very first claim. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: A Mutual’s First Claim

May 3, 2017

By the Minutes: Ixonia Mutual Founded 1875

Founding minutes of Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company, Ixonia, Wisconsin

By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT

Three years after the state of Wisconsin passed a law allowing the formation of town mutual insurance companies, land owners in the Town of Ixonia gathered to form a mutual. On Saturday, November 6, 1875, 31 owners of land collectively valued at $32,250 met in Ixonia Center and formed Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

The new organization elected John Gibb to serve as chairman and F.V. Piper as secretary. These men formed the board of directors along with Ferdinand Gauerke, Fred Huebner, Carl Pautz, John Lindemann and James McCall. The directors were charged with drafting a code of bylaws to govern the organization.

On November 13, 1875, the Articles of Organization and Bylaws were read and approved by members of Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Similar to those of Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company in the nearby Town of Watertown, the bylaws followed the guidelines established by the Wisconsin Chapter 103.

According to Ixonia Mutual’s minutes, the bylaws additionally stated:

The policy would be void if a fire was caused by ashes stored in a wood container within 40 feet of the insured building.
Insured property owners were required to pay one dollar to become a member and 75 cents for a policy fee.
The company would not be liable for damage caused by a hop house during drying season or from use of a steam engine on the premise.
The maximum amount allowed on any livestock was $100 per horse and $20 per horned animal.
Only citizens of the Town of Ixonia were allowed to become members.

On Tuesday January 4, 1876, the mutual held its first annual meeting. By this time there was a change in board members and serving as directors were Fred Huebner, president; F.V. Piper, secretary; H.E. Humphery, treasurer; Martin Stanton, Carl Pautz, John Lindemann and James McCall.

Written 142 years ago, these minutes are a fascinating history of our rural life. Did you know the cultivation of hops was a major agricultural industry in Wisconsin during the mid 1800s?

Our agriculture has changed many times over the centuries, but the dedication of our mutual insurance has not. Forward Mutual continues to support and provide protection for farmers in 16 counties of southeastern Wisconsin. If you’re interested in learning more, contact us.

history

Photo used with permission from the book Heritage of Ixonia, by Carl and Alida Jaeger.

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