Help us celebrate 100 years on TUESDAY, MAY 11th, 2010
at our office at 415 Washington Street, the yellow building with the blue roof.

HISTORY OF SUMMERVILLE INSURANCE AGENCY
"Security Is Our Specialty"
1910-2010

Summerville Insurance Agency (SIA) has been serving the Chillicothe community and surrounding area since 1910, offering you a wide variety of coverage and services in Missouri.

Jim's grandparents, J.F (Floyd) & Alta Summerville, started the agency representing Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Livingston County traveling through the county providing insurance services to their clients on horse (Dock)and buggy. Floyd would often spend the evening with his clients and while there would entertain them with his violin. J.F. (Floyd) established Summerville Insurance Agency in a log cabin on his father's farm. After Floyd moved his family to Chillicothe, his office was located on the second floor of Livingston County Court House.

Floyd's son, Clifford moved from Kansas City back to Chillicothe with his wife, Vivian and daughter, Sharon (Mrs. Jerry Litton) and son, Jim in April 1947. Clifford, joined the insurance agency in 1947 in their second floor office at 702 ½ Jackson St., Citizens National Bank building (now CBT) Cliff was appointed Secretary of Farmers Mutual and continued the Summerville Agency until 1972 when his son James Clifford joined the family-owned practice at 1211 N. Washington St. As independent agents, they wrote for 23 different insurance companies, one of them being American Family Insurance Company.

Jim continues the tradition of writing insurance for many companies to insure that all clients are given the best 
coverage suited for their needs. In 1985, Denny Lightner joined Summerville Insurance Agency as a partner until 1990. Up until now, the staff performed every task manually until the first system was purchased in 1985. The current location, since 1985 is at 415 Washington, the "yellow building with the blue roof."

SIA is a full service, independent agency, writing auto, home, business, commercial, contractors, condos, farm, health, life, manufacturing, renters, surety bonds and SR22's. Insurance companies are Auto Owners, BCBS, Columbia Mutual, Cornerstone, Dairyland, Farmers Alliance, First Comp, Haulers, Hartford, MJKelly, Progressive, Sagamore, RLI , United Security and many more.

Jim Summerville has been a licensed agent for (38) years, as CISR, and served as the Missouri Association of Professional Insurance Agents President in 1985-86. Jim was Chillicothe Chamber person of the Year in 2002 and received the Paul Harris Fellow award in 1998 and the 2007 Missouri State Vietnam Veteran Medal.

Jim's community involvement includes Rotary, Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce; Chillicothe airport board member; Young Eagles pilot; EAA; Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association ;Elder at the First Presbyterian Church; Jerry Litton Memorial Foundation board member; Elks Club; National White Tails Federation; National Wild Turkey Federation; Quail Forever; Audobon Society; International Order of Odd Fellows and University of Missouri Alumni. Jim is also a VietNam veteran and member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Joan, Jim, Karen Kay, and Mitzi, 2010

Joan Ganske, licensed agent and office manager has been with SIA for 20 years. Joan's great uncle, Hugh Tudor of Dawn served as secretary and was instrumental in getting Farmers Mutual started in 1891. Joan's grandfather, Jas. A. Lewis served as president for Farmers Mutual for many years.

SIA has an office in Polo, Missouri, as well, with Mitzi Brassea, licensed agent and office manager for 32 years. The Polo agency was established in June, 1977 and purchased auto business from Nevin Cox agency at Knoxville, Missouri, where Mitzi was employed as resident agent. The first office was on Main Street in the Bud Vaught real estate office. The current location, at 304 Main Street, offers all products and resources as the main office in Chillicothe, Missouri. They handle multi peril crop, commercial lines as well as personal homeowners, auto, including SR22 filings.

SIA also has sub-contractors in surrounding communities in north Missouri. They are Bob Stuart in Marceline, Missouri; Connie Turner in Linneus, Missouri; and Ben Lange in Concordia, Missouri.

SIA is committed to building long-term relationships with you - our clients. We are continuing a family tradition in the insurance business. Help us celebrate 100 years on TUESDAY, MAY 11th, at our office at 415 
Washington Street, the yellow building with the blue roof.