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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOn August 27, 2000, Ixonia Mutual celebrated its 125th anniversary with a \u201cPicnic in the Park.\u201d Over 550 people attended this momentous event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A year later, tragedy struck and changed the tone of our nation. On September 11 (9\/11), Islamic terrorists attacked the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C., horrifying Americans and people throughout the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These events affected the insurance industry, trickling down to even the small mutuals in Wisconsin. The USA Patriot Act, signed into law by President George W. Bush in October 2001, required insurance companies to report possible money laundering. The Terrorist Risk Insurance Act, signed into law in November 2002, required insurance companies to cover acts of terrorism. Mutual reinsurance costs increased by over 7.5% in 2002. These changes greatly affected Ixonia Mutual Insurance Company and Watertown Mutual Agency. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2006, Ixonia Mutual changed the corporate structure of its board of directors. The president of the board became chairperson of the board and a new position of president and CEO of the company was created. This new position was responsible for managing the mutual, which previously had been the duty of the board secretary. It additionally helped distinguish between the board of director officers and the management of the mutual. Howard Wiedenhoeft served as Ixonia Mutual\u2019s first president and CEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The year of 2006 brought many technology changes for Ixonia Mutual. With a goal of promoting the mutual and reaching out to its insureds, Ixonia Mutual published its first internet website. The office installed a digital file system for electronically storing paper documents, which made its expansive filing cabinets nearly obsolete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Changes also came to the insurance coverage world, which were indicative of the ever-developing technological times. To keep up with policyholder demands, Ixonia Mutual added new coverages, including Identity Theft Coverage in 2006 and Equipment Breakdown Coverage in 2008.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s interesting to look back at those first ten years of the new century. So many changes occurred, yet both Ixonia Mutual and Watertown Mutual continued to meet the needs of their insureds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By the Minutes: Introduction<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1872 Watertown Mutual Founded<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1875 Ixonia Mutual Founded<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Comparing the Capitalizing of Two Early Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A Mutual\u2019s First Claim<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting Dairy in the Late 1800s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1879 Early Challenges for a Young Mutual<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ixonia Mutual\u2019s First $1000 Loss<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n 1885 A Year of Neighbor Helping Neighbor<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Changes of Bylaws<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Dairy Heritage<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Insuring Automobiles<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Taxes, War and the English Language<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Supporting the Community\u2019s Fire Protection<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Directors and Their Meetings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Standardization of Wisconsin Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Of Electricity, Radio and Foxes<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Annual Meetings Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tumultuous 1930-1940s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n How a Major Disaster Affected Extended Coverage and Reinsurance<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Surviving the Big Dogs in the 1960s<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Introducing Agents to the Mutuals<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Accounting Over the Years<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Centennial Anniversaries<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mutual Offices<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mutual Managers and Staff<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Establishing Confidence in Financial Strength<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Entering the Era of Computers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The 1990s, Advancement and Angst<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Start of the 21st Century<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Concord and Watertown Merge<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ixonia Mutual and Watertown Mutual Merge and a New Company is Formed<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Setting the Stage, Moving Forward with a New 2020 Vision<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.forwardmutual.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/32_125-Anni-2-1024x614.jpg\")
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nNational Tragedy Affected All<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Changes in Structure of Leadership<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"Howard](\"https:\/\/www.forwardmutual.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/32_HowardWiedenhoeft-819x1024.jpg\")
Changes in Technology<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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