June 7, 2017

Time for Dairy Breakfasts in Wisconsin!

Dairy Breakfast in Wisconsin

June is Dairy Month and in Wisconsin that means dairy breakfast on the farm! Forward Mutual is proud to support the Watertown Agri-Business Dairy Breakfast. This year’s event will be held June 17-18 at the Mike and Anna Gudenkauf Farm. Join the fun!

Not in the Watertown area? Below is a list of tasty farm breakfasts in our operating territory. And if you’re further still, here’s a list of breakfasts throughout Wisconsin.

Get out and celebrate June Dairy Month!

Columbia County Moo-Day Brunch
Columbia County
Saturday, June 17, 2017; 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

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 16, 2017

Forward Mutual Heads to Capitol Hill

Forward Mutual meets with WIsconsin lawmakers in Washington DC

Representing Forward Mutual, Howard and Lois Wiedenhoeft joined other Wisconsin mutual insurance companies in meeting with Representative Mike Gallagher (Wisconsin Legislative District #8) to discuss issues that affect their constituents.

Forward Mutual is proud to have recently participated in the Congressional Contact Program (CCP) in Washington D.C. to educate members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation on the issues facing the mutual insurance industry, its agents and policyholders. [Read more…] about Forward Mutual Heads to Capitol Hill

May 12, 2017

By the Minutes: Comparing the Capitalizing of Two Early Mutuals

HIstoric treasurer's books from Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Watertown, WI

By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT

Mutual companies need capital to meet the challenges of operating a business and offering insurance. Historically, mutual companies have managed a financial security that allows them to focus on all of their policyholders rather than a few select stockholders. Let’s learn how how our founding mutuals—Ixonia Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Fire Insurance Company— capitalized their companies in the late 1800s. [Read more…] about By the Minutes: Comparing the Capitalizing of Two Early Mutuals

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.

Wisconsin

Representing Forward Mutual, Howard and Lois Wiedenhoeft joined other Wisconsin mutual insurance companies in meeting with Representative Mike Gallagher (Wisconsin Legislative District #8) to discuss issues that affect their constituents.

Read more!