The Amish Mutual Fire Insurance Association, originally known as the Amish Mutual Aid Plan, was organized around 1875 by the Old Order Amish churches of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Prior to that time freewill offerings had been taken to cover the fire losses of members.  Sometimes, however, members did not receive enough to cover their losses while prominent members received more than was required. To equalize this, a company with power to assess and tax was organized. A few years later, when the Millwood and Conestoga Amish Mennonite congregations were organized, they also joined the Mutual Aid Plan.

These churches worked together until January 1923, when the Amish Mennonite and Conservative Amish Mennonite congregations organized the separate company that later became the Amish Mutual Fire Insurance Association. When in 1928 a Pennsylvania law abolished all insurance companies not carrying a surplus fund and paying a state license, a license was taken out in January 1929, and a surplus fund raised by borrowing $10,000, which was invested in public school bonds. Later this money was raised by assessment and the note was paid. In 1949 the total insurance in force exceeded $8,000,000. The three conferences represented in it at that time were the Ohio and Eastern Amish Mennonite, the Lancaster Mennonite and the Conservative Amish Mennonite. All types of farm buildings, dwellings, garages, churches, livestock and farm machinery were covered against fire and storm, and automobiles and trucks were covered against fire and theft. Only members in good standing in non-resistant churches were insured. In charge of the organization was a board of seven directors, none of whom received salaries, although the secretary and treasurer received some compensation for their services.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 98. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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