Six men had an idea and it grew and grew… And the tradition continues on today.
German Mutual Insurance Association took root in 1888 in a rural community located in Wayne Township, Jones County, Iowa, and has grown and flourished. The original intent of the company was to serve farm families of German descent. The company was founded by a group of six German settlers who met to discuss their need for insurance and protection of their farms. Those who gathered in 1888 included: August Toenjes, Ben Heeren, John H. Tobiason, Harm Harms, Gerd Rickels and George H. Balster. Ties to the German settlers remain strong and many of the 38 farms originally insured with the company are still insured today.
German Mutual was first known as “German Mutual Fire Insurance Company.” Coverage was limited to protect against fire damage and lightning. A reorganization occurred in 1916 and the name of the company was changed to “German Mutual Fire Insurance Association”, and continued to provide the same sound fire protection for buildings and personal property. In later years, coverage was extended to include additional perils such as wind, theft, vandalism, and collision. The company continued to grow and in 1954 assumed its present name, German Mutual Insurance Association.
Starting out in rural Wayne Township, the original directors first met at Wayne Center School to organize the company. For the first 70 years, meetings were held in private homes or the school. As the company grew, so did the need for office space. In 1960, the company bought what was known as the Borden plant located at 702 South Main Street in Monticello, where German Mutual is headquartered today. We serve a seven county area in Eastern Iowa.
German Mutual has an eight-member Board. All directors are required to be policyholders. The Board is primarily responsible for reviewing the company’s finances, investments, reinsurance, and making decisions related to underwriting, policy coverages and rates. German Mutual stays competitive by continually looking for new coverages needed in the ever-changing farm environment. After many years of service, the German Mutual Insurance Association Board of Directors and employees would like to express our thanks and gratitude to our agents and policyholders for their continued support and business.
Annual Meeting Information
The Annual Meeting is held on the third Saturday in March of each year at 1:00 pm at the office. As a policyholder, you are a member of the Mutual. Each member present shall be entitled to one vote. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.