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By HOWARD WIEDENHOEFT<\/p>\n
Centennial anniversaries are always exciting news. But for small businesses such as mutual insurance companies they are monumental events. In the 1970s both our founding companies marked their 100 years with pride.<\/p>\n
Watertown Mutual Insurance Company<\/a> held its 100th annual meeting on January 4, 1972. President Hugo\u00a0Dietzel presided and Secretary Gladys Dietzel gave a\u00a0brief presentation on the history of the mutual. During its 100 years, the mutual had six presidents: Christian Trachte, 1872-1891; Emil Witte, 1891-1904; Frank B Lehmann, 1904-1914; John Rettig, 1914-1921; Frank G Lehmann, 1921-1932; Theodore Lehmann, 1932-1965; and Hugo Dietzel, who began in 1965. During those years it only had five secretaries; Fredrick Buckholz, 1872-1886; Gustav Eichmann, 1886-1910; E. F. Niemann, 1910-1943; Arthur Linnes, 1943-1971; and Gladys Dietzel, who began serving in 1971.<\/p>\n In 1972, Watertown Mutual was insuring property in the counties of Jefferson, Dodge, Dane, and Waukesha. Its December 31, 1972 financial report showed the mutual had 1,036 policies with $32,940,842 of insurance in force. The average policy was $31,796.\u00a0 The mutual had annual premium volume of $100,124 with $267,710 of assets and surplus of $269,780.<\/p>\n Three years later, Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company<\/a>\u00a0marked its 100 years with an annual meeting on February 12, 1975 and a Centennial Celebration on May 27, 1975. Both events were held at the Ixonia Fireman\u2019s Hall. Acknowledged as presidents during the mutual’s 100 years were Fred Huebner, 1875-1902; John E Humphrey, 1902-1905; William Moran, 1905-1920; Evans C. Evans, 1920-1925; Otto Strache, 1925-1939, J.C. Kuester, 1939-1953; Alvin Timmel, 1953-1971; and Percy Wendt, who began serving in 1971.\u00a0Men who served as secretary were F.V. Piper, 1875-1886 and again from 1887-1888 and 1889-1903; David Owen, 1886-1887; James McCall, 1888-1889; John Saeger, 1903-1916; Arnold Saeger, 1916-1919; R.J. Schwefel, 1919-1920; George Saeger, 1920-1934; Ernst Weege, 1934-1943; Donald Melcher, 1943-1944; John Degner, 1944-1968; and Theodore Degner, who began serving in 1968.<\/p>\n In 1972 Ixonia Mutual was insuring property in the Jefferson, Dodge, and Waukesha Counties. The company’s December 31, 1975 financial report showed 534 policies with $28,185,100 of insurance in force. The average policy was $52,781. It had an annual premium volume of $55,991 with $386,137 of assets and surplus of $327,137.<\/p>\n There’s an interesting comparison between the two mutuals. As you can see Watertown Mutual had very little turn over of its officers in the first 100 years, with most officers serving until their death. However, Ixonia Mutual’s positions were more often contested and thus had a greater diversity of officers serving.<\/p>\n The founders of these mutuals would have been proud of the insurance companies they started and the service they provided to the community. Forward Mutual is honored to continue this tradition still today.<\/p>\n By the Minutes: Introduction<\/a><\/p>\n 1872 Watertown Mutual Founded<\/a><\/p>\n 1875 Ixonia Mutual Founded<\/a><\/p>\n Comparing the Capitalizing of Two Early Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n A Mutual\u2019s First Claim<\/a><\/p>\n Supporting Dairy in the Late 1800s<\/a><\/p>\n 1879 Early Challenges for a Young Mutual<\/a><\/p>\n Ixonia Mutual\u2019s First $1000 Loss<\/a><\/p>\n 1885 A Year of Neighbor Helping Neighbor<\/a><\/p>\n Changes of Bylaws<\/a><\/p>\n Our Dairy Heritage<\/a><\/p>\n Insuring Automobiles<\/a><\/p>\n Taxes, War and the English Language<\/a><\/p>\n Supporting the Community\u2019s Fire Protection<\/a><\/p>\n Board Directors and Their Meetings<\/a><\/p>\n Standardization of Wisconsin Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n Of Electricity, Radio and Foxes<\/a><\/p>\n Our Annual Meetings Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n Tumultuous 1930-1940s<\/a><\/p>\n How a Major Disaster Affected Extended Coverage and Reinsurance<\/a><\/p>\n Surviving the Big Dogs in the 1960s<\/a><\/p>\n Introducing Agents to the Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n Accounting Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n Centennial Anniversaries<\/a><\/p>\n Mutual Offices<\/a><\/p>\n Mutual Managers and Staff<\/a><\/p>\n Establishing Confidence in Financial Strength<\/a><\/p>\n Entering the Era of Computers<\/a><\/p>\n The 1990s, Advancement and Angst<\/a><\/p>\n The Start of the 21st Century<\/a><\/p>\n Concord and Watertown Merge<\/a><\/p>\n Ixonia Mutual and Watertown Mutual Merge and a New Company is Formed<\/a><\/p>\n Setting the Stage, Moving Forward with a New 2020 Vision<\/a><\/p>\nIxonia Mutual<\/h2>\n
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