News: Spencer History – Insurance

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Damon, Bodle, Neumann, Nikolai, Gibbs, Boock, Stevens, Rasmussen, Carpenter

Source: Spencer Centennial Book (1874 – 1974)

Mr. A. Damon (Gus), one of our earlier insurance agents, wrote fire insurance for Phoenix-Fidelity of New York. He received a gold watch fob, an official decoration for 25 years of service, from the company. Later Harry Bodle took over the agency from Mr. Damon.

Herman Neumann, a town of Brighton farmer, sold insurance for the McMillan Mutual Insurance Company for years until his illness in 1945, when his son, Walter, took over the agency. Walter has now sold the agency to Leo Nikolai Insurance of Marshfield, but still remains as director and president of McMillan Mutual Insurance.

Lewis V. Gibbs, of Ladysmith, came to Spencer in1954, and from then until the time of his sudden death in 1967, he conducted an insurance agency, selling for Heritage Mutual, American Life & Casualty, North American Life, and others.

Norbert Boock is an independent agent for Heritage, Milwaukee Mutual, Midland, Western Security, North American Life and Banker's Life of Des Moines. He conducts his business from his home at 309 W. Main Street.

Vern Stevens and Douglas Rasmussen sold insurance at their office in the former bank building on the corner of Clark and LaSalle Streets and later Mr. and Mrs. Stevens conducted an insurance business in a new office, the remodeled home of Emma Hess. In March of 1971 the insurance business was sold to Knott Insurance, Inc. of Marshfield.

Victor Carpenter takes care of the insurance for the Mutual Service Insurance Company in his building at 116 East Clark, the first home of the Spencer Bank, now remodeled.