High Hill in Fayette County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Catholic Life Insurance

Photographed by Gregory Walker, June 4, 2011

1. Catholic Life Insurance Marker

Inscription. In 1901, a group of German-Catholic immigrants to Texas who were united by faith, by language, by common concern for their fellow man and by their desire to protect their families, founded their own fraternal benefit society. Originally called the Sterbekasse der Deutschen Katholiken von Texas, this group traces its roots to St. Mary's Church in High Hill, Texas. It was the first fraternal in Texas to admit both men and women as members, offer children's life insurance protection, and adopt the legal reserve system. Msgr. Henry Gerlach, longtime pastor of St. Mary's Church was the first policyholder of this new fraternal society.

While the name changed in the mid-1930s to Catholic Life Insurance, the organization's desire to help their fellow man and to protect their families has never diminished. Today, nearly 70,000 individuals rely on Catholic Life Insurance for their life insurance and retirement protection.

Erected 2001.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 29° 43.053′ N, 96° 55.675′ W. Marker is in High Hill, Texas, in Fayette County. It is at the intersection of Farm to Market

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Road 2672 and High Hill Road, on the right when traveling north on Route 2672. Located at St. Mary Catholic Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2833 F.M 2672, Schulenburg TX 78956, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Creuzbaur's Battery, C.S.A. (within shouting distance of this marker); High Hill Cemetery (approx. 1.1 miles away); William B. Bridgers (approx. 2.3 miles away); Lyons Family Cemetery (approx. 2.3 miles away); Carl T. Morene: A Shorthorn Forever (approx. 2.3 miles away); Col. William F. Upton (approx. 2.3 miles away); Schulenburg City Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away); Schulenburg Baptist Church (approx. 2.4 miles away).

Location of Catholic Life Insurance Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gregory Walker, June 4, 2011

2. Location of Catholic Life Insurance Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2014, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. This page has been viewed 919 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2014, by Gregory Walker of La Grange, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.