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HISTORY OF HOCHHEIM PRAIRIE FARM MUTUAL INSURANCE ASSOCIATION
One of the first questions that arise is “Where did the name Hochheim Prairie come from?”
The word Hochheim is a German word pronounced "Hoe' hime" meaning literally "Home of the Hochs". Hoch is the surname of Valentin Hoch, a German immigrant, who came to Texas in 1846 aboard the
ship Everhard and landed at the port of Indianola, Texas. While still in Germany, Valentin purchased some 45 1/2 acres of land, sight unseen, from a land broker. The land was located in what is now DeWitt County. He
and a friend, Augustus Weig, began work on a home, a slow laborious process that lasted for four years. Stones were quarried from the Guadalupe River Valley about a mile away and hauled by slide.
A community grew up in the area where the Hochs lived and was thus named Hochheim. Valentin was awarded government contracts and his house served as “The Stagecoach Inn” on the Austin-Indianola Road.
To the north and east of Hochheim lay a fertile blackland prairie; the tip of the blackland prairie that runs down the center of Texas. Drawn to this land by the lure of promoters and the prospect of rich farmland
came many other German immigrant families after the Civil War. They brought with them their customs, habits, and a lifestyle of frugality, hard work and a fierce independence - a desire for self-help. They settled
on the rich prairie, farmed, and raised their families. Education was vital to them so several German Language Schools were created. One such school was called the Hochheim Prairie School. The area around this
school was called Hochheim Prairie Community.
The German pioneers had faced many hardships to come to the new country and would overcome many more. Located in the rural areas, it was virtually impossible for a home to survive a fire. The destruction of a home in
those days usually resulted in the people of the community contributing money, food, clothing, or anything of value to help their unfortunate neighbor. This was charity - something the people did not like. They
wanted some plan whereby the person suffering the loss could be reimbursed for such loss. At a meeting at the Hochheim Prairie Schoolhouse on the Second Day of Pentecost, in 1892, some of the citizens of the
community decided to organize a mutual insurance association. At this meeting they elected some officers and decided to work out plans for operating the organization, to contact and invite people of good character
to a meeting at a later date.
On the last Sunday in August 1892, another meeting was called. On this date, thirty people insured their residences for the amount of $6,550.00. The first rate was $1.00 per $100.00 valuation, resulting in the
collection of $65.50 in assessments. Before an assessment could be levied in 1893, one of the member's houses, insured for $150.00, was destroyed by fire. The association lacked sufficient funds to make a
settlement, so members made loans to the organization.
In the fall of 1892, a branch was organized at Shiner, Texas and designated as Branch No. 1. For many years, the Headquarters, then called the Trunk, was in the home of one of the members. The branch business was
also conducted in a member secretary's home.
Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual Insurance Association whose initials H.P.F.M.I.A. illustrate its goals of - - Honest, Protection, Fair Minded Individual Attention - provides
fire and extended coverage insurance protection to its members.
The Association operates under the provisions of Chapter 911 of the Texas Insurance Code that governs Farm Mutual Insurance Companies.
Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual is owned and operated by the Policyholders within the State of Texas. Coverage cannot be purchased for properties located outside of Texas.
August 18, 1978
Hochheim Prairie Casualty Insurance Company was incorporated and ready to commence business on January 1, 1979. At that time, Hochheim Prairie Casualty Insurance Company only wrote personal
liability coverage. Later it began writing auto and then expanded into other policies. The purpose of establishing the Hochheim Prairie Casualty Insurance Company was to offer the Association Members a source for
personal liability, auto and other coverages that the parent company was unable to provide.
October 3, 1985
New Security Casualty Company was acquired. On May 21, 1986, the name was changed to Hochheim Prairie Insurance Company. The Company was incorporated in August 1984
and ready to commence business in October 1986. Its original purpose was to allow differences in auto rates between the two subsidiary companies. HPIC was merged into HPCIC on December 21, 2004.
April 24, 1987
Texana Financial Services Company was incorporated. The purpose was to provide premium finance services to the Members of the parent as well as other non-insurance related services.
October 1, 1997
Brushy Creek General Agency, Inc. d.b.a./Insurance Markets Unlimited was formed. This company, working in conjunction with Hochheim agents, gives members the opportunity to purchase a broad
range of personal and commercial products that are not offered by the Hochheim companies.
January 1, 2007
Hochheim Businessowners Policy (BOP) was offered by Hochheim Prairie Casualty Insurance Company (HPCIC) as a new line of business. The BOP provides property and liability coverages for
small, rural, main-street businesses.
From this humble beginning, the Hochheim Prairie Insurance Companies has grown to a company spanning the entire state. The Hochheim Prairie Farm Mutual Company serves over 100,000 member
families. However, the Association has not lost sight of the fierce pioneer spirit which is so much a part of its heritage - yet, at the same time, does not dwell in the past but looks toward a growth-filled and
prosperous future.
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