George J. Mecherle

George Jacob "G.J." Mecherle (pronounced "Ma-herl") (June 7, 1877 - March 10, 1951) was the founder of State Farm, headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. Mecherle, a farmer who became an insurance agent also, founded State Farm after becoming dissatisfied with the insurance rates charged to farmers, as those rates included the risks of city drivers as well. Mecherle was known as a very progressive and scientific farmer. However, in 1919 he quit farming and moved to Florida to improve his wife's health — she had rheumatoid arthritis. The warm climate did not improve her health so they moved back to Central Illinois in 1921. After returning to Illinois he had sold tractors for a while and discovered that he had a real knack for selling to farmers. Believing that city insurance companies were "rooking" farmers with high premiums based upon city driving accident rates, he became obsessed with the idea of starting his own insurance company — "an honest insurance company" was the phrase Mecherle used. In the spring of 1921, Tazewell County Farm Bureau organized a township mutual insurance company — which was the idea Mecherle had been considering — a mutual insurance company which is owned by those who are insured through a membership. The Tazewell company was set up to insure property, including automobiles.