George J. Mecherle
| George J. Mecherle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
June 7, 1877 Merna, McLean County, Illinois |
| Died |
March 10, 1951 (aged 73) Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois |
| Occupation | farmer, insurance agent |
| Known for | founder of State Farm Insurance |
| Spouse(s) |
May Edith Perry Mecherle (m. 1900–42) (her death) Sylvia Mae Harbaugh Mecherle (m. 1944–51) (his death) |
| Children | grandchildren = Bob Mecherle and grandbrother Mecherle, Vicki Mecherle, Julie Philpott, great grandchildren = Greg, Steve, Cindy Mecherle, Bethany Sampson, Misti Vance, great great grandchildren = Robert John Mecherle, Christopher Pratt Mecherle, Sydney Dunham Sampson, Jean-luc Lafayette Sampson |
| Parent(s) | Christian and Susan Hull Mecherle |
George Jacob "G.J." Mecherle[1] (pronounced "Ma-herl") (June 7, 1877 - March 10, 1951) was the founder of State Farm Insurance, 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 drives as well.
Mr. Mecherle was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame in 1985.
References
- ↑ "State Farm Story". State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company. Retrieved 2008-08-31.
- ↑ Simms, Steve (February 2004). "State Farm, George Mecherle, and Farm Bureau". Illinois Farm Bureau. Retrieved 2008-08-31.