In the early fall of 1877 a group of
men met at the home farm of
Emanuel J. Diehl, later owned and
occupied by a son Elias E. Diehl, in
Friends Cove, Colerain Township,
Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
This farm was located near the
center of the cove, approximately
one mile east of Charlesville, and
about one-half mile north of the
Twin Churches.
Whether by some unfortunate
fire losses which had occurred in
the community, or just by wise
and prudent foresight, it was
certain they had a very strong
feelings about organizing and
operating their own mutual fire
insurance company. Thirty-five
(35) subscribers were secured.
January 2, 1878, a charter was
granted by the Governor of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
John F. Hartranft, to the Friends
Cove Farmers Mutual Fire
Insurance Company, Charlesville
Pennsylvania.
April 9, 1878 – At the second
regular meeting of the company,
the following officers were
chosen: President H.P. Diehl,
Secretary Samuel Hunt, Deputy
Treasurer Henry H. Koontz,
General Agent John H. Cessna,
and the following directors:
William Cessna, Andrew J. Diehl,
David Diehl, Emanuel J. Diehl,
Nevin Diehl, S.P. Kegg, Josiah Ott,
A. Mortimore, Daniel Pencil,
Ephriam Robinson, Reuben Smith
and Levi Whetstone.
May 17, 1878 – Special meeting
called to adjust and record the
first loss by fire. Several buildings
of Leonard S. Tewell burned April
4, 1878. Total loss adjusted at
$900.00. One-half of this amount
to be paid at the end of six
months and the rest within one
year, with interest for the last six
months.
October 8, 1878 – Was a most
important meeting. There was a
deficit of $27,200 insurance to be
written by the end of the year in
order to hold the charter.
$200,000 being the amount
required when the charter was
given, to be obtained within the
year. A building located in
Charlesville, to be used as office,
was rented from Adam F. Diehl at
a cost of $10.00 per year. Mr.
Diehl to furnish the company one
load of wood. A stove costing
$2.00 and a table costing $1.00
was purchased.
MODERN TIMES
1953 – Installed an IBM service
system (026 printing punch
machine).
1956 – Charter broadened and
title changed to Friends Cove
Mutual Ins.Company.
1962 – Donald W. DeArment
joined the company as an
underwriter.
1963 – Contract for new building
in Bedford was given to the
Earlston Lumber Co.
1963 – Purchased a Thermo-Fax
copy machine.
1963 – Donald W. DeArment was
named General Manager and
Underwriter.
1963 – Moved into new building in
Bedford, Pennsylvania.
1971 – Donald W. DeArment was
elected Secretary-Treasurer of
the Company.
1974 – Donald W. DeArment was
elected to the Board of Directors
of P.A.M.I.C.
1983 – Installed claims on
computer system.
1996 – Implemented in-house
insurance processing software.
1998 – Joined millions on the
World Wide Web.
2000 – Developed this web site for
your information and enjoyment.
“Friends Cove Mutual”
In the early fall of 1877 a
group of men met at the
home farm of Emanuel J.
Diehl, later owned and
occupied by a son Elias E.
Diehl, in Friends Cove,
Colerain Township, Bedford
County, Pennsylvania. This
farm was located near the
center of the cove,
approximately one mile east
of Charlesville, and about
one-half mile north of the
Twin Churches.
Whether by some
unfortunate fire losses
which had occurred in the
community, or just by wise
and prudent foresight, it
was certain they had a very
strong feelings about
organizing and operating
their own mutual fire
insurance company. Thirty-
five (35) subscribers were
secured.
January 2, 1878, a charter
was granted by the
Governor of the
Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, John F.
Hartranft, to the Friends
Cove Farmers Mutual Fire
Insurance Company,
Charlesville Pennsylvania.
April 9, 1878 – At the second
regular meeting of the
company, the following
officers were chosen:
President H.P. Diehl,
Secretary Samuel Hunt,
Deputy Treasurer Henry H.
Koontz, General Agent John
H. Cessna, and the following
directors: William Cessna,
Andrew J. Diehl, David Diehl,
Emanuel J. Diehl, Nevin
Diehl, S.P. Kegg, Josiah Ott,
A. Mortimore, Daniel Pencil,
Ephriam Robinson, Reuben
Smith and Levi Whetstone.
May 17, 1878 – Special
meeting called to adjust and
record the first loss by fire.
Several buildings of Leonard
S. Tewell burned April 4,
1878. Total loss adjusted at
$900.00. One-half of this
amount to be paid at the
end of six months and the
rest within one year, with
interest for the last six
months.
October 8, 1878 – Was a
most important meeting.
There was a deficit of
$27,200 insurance to be
written by the end of the
year in order to hold the
charter. $200,000 being the
amount required when the
charter was given, to be
obtained within the year. A
building located in
Charlesville, to be used as
office, was rented from
Adam F. Diehl at a cost of
$10.00 per year. Mr. Diehl to
furnish the company one
load of wood. A stove
costing $2.00 and a table
costing $1.00 was
purchased.
MODERN TIMES
1953 – Installed an IBM
service system (026 printing
punch machine).
1956 – Charter broadened
and title changed to Friends
Cove Mutual Ins.Company.
1962 – Donald W. DeArment
joined the company as an
underwriter.
1963 – Contract for new
building in Bedford was
given to the Earlston
Lumber Co.
1963 – Purchased a Thermo-
Fax copy machine.
1963 – Donald W. DeArment
was named General
Manager and Underwriter.
1963 – Moved into new
building in Bedford,
Pennsylvania.
1971 – Donald W. DeArment
was elected Secretary-
Treasurer of the Company.
1974 – Donald W. DeArment
was elected to the Board of
Directors of P.A.M.I.C.
1983 – Installed claims on
computer system.
1996 – Implemented in-
house insurance processing
software.
1998 – Joined millions on the
World Wide Web.
2000 – Developed this web
site for your information
and enjoyment.
