The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-18
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor
The National Life's Semi. Centennial.

The earlier generations OF the busl-
ness men of Montpelier developed q
peculiar aptitude for mercantile, bank
ing and insurance enterprises. Colonel
Jacob Davis entered the wilderness on
the Win0oski, at the confluence of its
North Branch, built his hut and gath
cred his household gods here in 1887,
and the town of Montpelier was for
mally organized in 1871.
In 1928, little more than q gener-
alton after Montpelier had emerged
from the forest primeval, was organized
the Vermont Mutual Fire Insurance
Company, an institution whose career
has been steadily onward and upward,
and which exemplifies in its solidity
and prosperity to-day the enterprise of
its founders and the wisdom and bust
ness sagacity of their successors In the
management of its affairs.
Some two generations after the first
trees had been felled on the site of the
town which in 1906 became the capital
of the Green Mountain State, was char
tered lin 1848) the National Life Insur-
ance Company Only the original and
fertile brain of a Vermont Yankee
could have conceived the idea of en-
barking in life insurance enterprise
at that period of the development of
the business, up here in "the wilds of
Vermont" as the urban dweller styled
and delighted to consider this region.
And the provision of the adventurous
organizers of the enterprise as shown in
the name with which this company was
christened was only less remarkable
than the originality and hardihood ex-
hibited in the undertaking itself. The
title, the National Life Insurance Com
pany, was certainly somewhat ambi-
tious, considering the circumstances of
locality and origin, but the child has
grown until its name fits it with be-
coming grace and propriety. The
company is today national in the broad
est sense of the word.
Though first incorporated in 1S4S, an
amended charter was taken out in 1849,
and the Company's active business ca
reer began in 1860. No pent up Utica
confined its enterprise. 1t invaded and
was admitted to New York in the same
year, was early in the field in Massa-
chusetts and began to solicit business
in the west. 1t entered Illinois in 1869,
Michigan in 1872, Iowa in 1873, and
westward the star of it's enterprise
made it's way till in 1885 the offices of
its agents were opened on the Pacific
coast. The Company now occupies
every important northern and western
State, and some Of the southern. In
the strict matter of geographical fact,
as we'll as in name, it has become the
National Life Insurance Company.
Founded by Vermonters to the man
ner born, originally managed by Yer
monters in all its departments, it has
continued under the control of Yer
mont men, and for the most part of
Montpelier men, down to the present
time. DR.. Julius Y. Dewey of Mont.
pelier was its first president, and in it's
first board of directors were the names
of men well and honorably known in
the history of their times. Some be-
came Governors of the State or the &C.
cupants Of other important public off,
ces, some have been eminent in the
law and business, and some were Sem
ators Of the United States. DIR. Dewey
thoroughly organized and theoretically
prosecuted the business till his death,
and in 1877 was succeeded by his son,
Hon. Charles Dewey, the present head
of the company. Mr.. j. G. Houghton,
for many years the treasurer, now the
vice-president and invested with the
leading management, Mr.. Fl. M. Cut
Ter, the treasurer, Col o. d. Clark, the
secretary, DR.. A. B. Bisbee, medical ex-
aminer, are the products of Mont.
pelier institutions or professional life.
In Mr.. Joseph A. DeBoer, for some
years actuary and now second vice.
president, a strain Of outside blood was
introduced into the official manage
ment. Mr.. DeBoer came to the Ma
tional Life from the principalship of
the Montpelier High School. Born in
Holland, early an emigrant to this
country, starting in life as a newsboy
in city of neighboring State, max
ing his way and rising by his own eff
forts and on his own merits-today as
good Vermonter as any that live
he brought the aggressive force of
genius for difficult and important affairs
into his place in an official manage
ment, that represents, in its various
departments, high grade of skill, in
telligence, push and practical wisdom.
The policies of insurance the Nation
4 70 hoo 81.