Marshall Mutual’s roots trace back to March 18th, 1889, when a group of pioneering individuals in Clark County held the company’s first meeting. Originally known as the Darwin Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company, the organization was spearheaded by its fist President, S.D. Coldren, along with key board members including Samuel Rudy, F.W. Stump, A. Schumaker, O.O. Tauberneck, Martin Kittle, William Kerran, J.J. Meehling, and Fred Bubeck. During that initial meeting, the Board borrowed $60 from H.E. Tauberneck to secure a state charter and begin operations. The company’s primary mission was to protect the residents of Darwin, Anderson, and Wabash townships from fire and lightning losses.
The company’s first claim was processed on August 12th, 1889. Fred Leucht held policy number 57 received $15 after lightning killed his cow. By December of 1889, Darwin Township Mutual Fire Insurance Company had 72 policies, covering a total of $62,190 in insurance with an income of $212.75 and expenses totaling $169.27.
As the company grew, the first Board of Directors meeting in Marshall was held on February 18th, 1891. This meeting marked a significant turning point, as it was renamed Marshall Mutual County Fire Insurance Company. It expanded its charter, allowing it to write insurance across all townships in Clark County. In 1953 Marshall Mutual County Fire Insurance Company began another phase of expansion, extending its coverage to Edgar, Coles, and Cumberland counties. Three years later, in 1956, the company further broadened its reach to include Crawford and Jasper counties.
The 1980s ushered in a new era of growth for Marshall Mutual. Under new management starting in 1981, the company’s assets grew significantly from $318,900 to over $1,308,000 while its premium volume tripled from $337,000 to $903,000 by January 1990. This period of rapid expansion culminated in the company’s final name change in 1987, to Marshall Mutual Insurance. This was to reflect its broader covering area across 26 counties including Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Iroquois, Jasper, Lawrence, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Richland, Sangamon, Shelby, and Vermillion.
Marshall Mutual has maintained its headquarters on North 6th Street in Marshall since relocating from Darwin Township. The current office, where the company has operated since 1986, continues to serve as the heart of its operations. Operating under the Farm Mutual Act of Illinois, Marshall Mutual Insurance Company partners with Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company to write the liability portion of its coverage. Today, Marshall Mutual Insurance stands as a testament to over a century of growth, innovation, and steadfast commitment to protecting the communities it serves.
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