Our Company History

Benjamin Franklin began the mutual concept in Philadelphia in 1752.  He reasoned that if people pooled their resources, they could protect each other against financial ruin due to fire.  By helping one another, no individual would suffer a great financial burden.

In 1870, Chrisostomus Boul, a local farmer who believed strongly in this concept, traveled St Clair County visiting with fellow farmers, urging them to join in a society of mutual protection against loss by fire.  Over 120 farmers agreed with Boul's plan. On February 1, 1871, a meeting was held at the St. Clair County Courthouse in Belleville with 82 farmers in attendance.  Nine were elected to the board of directors.  August Chenot was named president of the board.

At the February 25, 1871 meeting of the board of directors, held in the Grand Jury room of the courthouse in Belleville, four different organizational plans were presented.  The board of directors voted to accept a proposal to unite as a mutual protecting society, without charter, and bound to each other by a pledge signed by each member.  The organization would be known as Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Society of St Clair County Illinois.  Only property in St Clair County was to be insured by the society; however, no property "located inside towns or cities" would be insured.  The office of the Society was located in West Belleville.
 

By March 1883, the society had grown to 1,438 members, and on June 2, 1883, it was resolved to organize in accordance with Illinois law as a county insurance company.  The company became known as Belleville, St Clair County Farmers Mutual Fire Insurance Company.  Liabilities and assets ($2,661) of the society were transferred to the new company with a risk in force of $421,392.

On April 7, 1965, the Board of Directors voted to shorten the company's name to Belleville, County Mutual Fire Insurance Company and begin insuring property in neighboring counties.

The company continued to grow, and at a meeting of the board of directors on March 18, 1987, changed its name to Belleville Mutual Insurance Company. The directors also voted to expand coverage to nine additional counties (for a total of 15) and to obtain authority from the Illinois Department of Insurance to write windstorm and hail coverage.

On January 1, 2003, Belleville Mutual (Belleville) and Denver Mutual (Newton) were merged to form Heartland Mutual Insurance Company.  The writing territory was expanded to 37 counties, with over $660 million risk in force, and assets of $3.5 million.

On January 1, 2004 Washington County Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Addieville) was merged into Heartland Mutual Insurance Company.  The writing territory remained at 37 counties, with over $800 million risk in force and assets of $4.5 million.

Today, the company has 62 counties in its writing territory, over $900 million risk in force, and assets in excess of $5 million.  With over a century of service to policyholders, Heartland Mutual Insurance Company looks to the future with an unwavering commitment to excellence.