About Us
EARLY HISTORY OF MAPLE VALLEY MUTUAL:
On May 23, 1891, twenty four propety holders from the Towns of Maple Valley, Howe, Gillett, Oconto Falls, Pensaukee, Chase and Town of Oconto, all situated in the County of Oconto, State of Wisconsin, met in the Maple Valley Town Hall to begin the organization of a mutual fire insurance corporation. Many of these people had recently moved into this area from other parts of the state and found that no insurance protection was available to them here. Organizing their own mutual insurance company was the best way to protect themselves from financial ruin of fire or lightning strike.
The directors elected at the first meeting were:
James Johnson Christian Peterson Frank Hubbard
J.A. Schweiberg Hans Christ Hanson James Peck
Peter Kieffer George Kobes Otto Horsemann
The following officers were elected at this meeting:
James Johnson - President Christian Peterson - Secretary
Frank Hubbard - Treasurer J.A. Schweiberg - Assessor
Hans Christ Hanson - Assessor
The name of the corporation would be Town of Maple Valley Mutual Home Fire Insurance Company. Since there were not enough members present as required by law, the meeting was adjourned until June 15, 1891.
On June 15, 1891, the following residents of the Towns of Maple Valley, Howe, Gillett, Oconto Falls, Pensaukee, Chase and Town of Oconto and owners of more than twenty five thousand dollars worth of property which they agreed to insure, met in the Maple Valley Town Hall to organize a mutual fire insurance corporation. The name of the corporation was to be Maple Valley Mutual Home Fire Insurance Company. Incorporators being: James Johnson, Christian Peterson, Frank Hubbard, John A. Schweiberg, Hans Christ Hanson, James Peck, Peter Kieffer, George Kobes, Otto Horsemann, John Johnson, John Monson, John Hanson, Andrew Gregerson, Henry Johnson, Niels Skovgart, Soren Peterson, James Kadlec, Sevi Tiechy, Thomas Hoffman, John Chicota, Mike Peterson, Severin Johnson, Fred Christenson, M.A. Mortenson, Knud Hanson, Soren H. Brock, Charles Mc Allister, Simon Nita, Joseph Sladkey, John C. Johnson, Martin Kobes, Frank Teteak, George Blasek, Theodore Christenson, Emil Kershek, John Shovner, Wm. Sieckmann, August J. Schoenebeck, Ferdinand Michalies, James Marlett, Freeman Brazeau, Thomas Mc Dougald, Peter Nielson and Albert Urbanik.
The directors and officers elected at the first meeting on May 23, 1891 were reaffirmed at this June 15th meeting and continued in office until the first annual meeting. The By-Laws of the Company were also approved and set forth in the minutes of this meeting. Organization was completed by September 1, 1891, so the Company began accepting applications and issuing policies. Twenty nine applications were approved on September 18, 1891 with a total premium of $245.88.
Of the 71 policies issued in 1891, the largest was policy #3 in the amount of $1,517 issued to George Kobes of Spruce and the smallest for $300, policy #71, was issued to Wm. Davis of Hickory.
The first loss suffered by the Company was a barn owned by Severin Johnson and included one and one fourth tons of hay and two sacks of feed. The total amount of this loss, which occurred on May 21, 1893, was $163.75. The second loss occurred on August 17, 1893 at the George Tiecke premises. Two barns and contents were lost that day and cost the Company $480. A dwelling and contents owned by Albert Therio was the third loss sustained by the Company. This loss occurred on September 11, 1894 and cost the Company $401.50.
One of the earlier losses was the St. Charles Catholic Church of Lena which burned on Tuesday, September 20, 1898. The building and contents were insured in the amount of $965. At that time the church was located two miles East of Lena near the present location of St. Charles Cemetery.