Beginning in 1902, at age 18, Bernhard "Ben" C. Ziegler sold fire insurance and mortgages to area farmers and merchants, first traveling by bicycle and later by horse and buggy to expand the business. By 1907, the business had grown to encompass virtually all of southeastern Wisconsin, and by 1913, B.C. Ziegler and Co. was one of the largest insurance agencies and farm mortgage companies in eastern Wisconsin. In 1913, the first bond was issued to build a new church for Holy Angels in West Bend, establishing institutional lending as Ziegler's stock in trade. In 1920, he incorporated B.C. Ziegler and Company, which had over 5,000 customers, and in 1927 he purchased the building at 215 N. Main Street. In the early 1960s, Ziegler opened sales offices, and in 1965 the company began offering hospital, church, and retirement home bonds. In 1972, Ben's two sons, Bernard C. and R. Douglas, were asked to take over leadership of the company after a tragic accident involving the Tom Kenny family. In 1986, Peter D. Ziegler, Ben's grandson, became president of the company. Ben Ziegler also founded the West Bend Company and First National Bank of West Bend and played a leading role in founding West Bend Mutual Insurance Company, all major contributors to the growth of the West Bend community. The firm continues to offer a wide range of financial services to its customers.