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A Brief History of German Farmers Mutual, Waukon German Farmers Mutual Insurance Association was started in 1870. There are no records indicating who was the manager. The first secretary-manager we are aware of was C.J. Helming, 1915. The location of the business was under what is now called Tierney's. It is interesting to note that the original minutes were all written in German. The first minutes recorded in English and German occurred in 1921. It wasn't until 1925 that the last German minutes were written. In a one-room office, also shared with Jones' Barber Shop, John Meier became a secretary-manager of the mutual in 1923. This office also was located under what is now Tierney's. In 1958, a move was in order, as Karl Simmons became secretary-manager of the mutual. Its new location, 18 Spring Avenue, occupied just two rooms. Charles Cook was named secretary-manager in 1968. The mutual was again moved under his supervision. This time to 20 Spring Avenue. In 1985, Linda Bernhard became secretary-manager of the mutual. The German Farmers Mutual Insurance Assn. bought the neighboring Spring Avenue building August 1, 1986, which had previously been occupied as a bar, called Spring Avenue 22, and later Mama's Worry. It was remodeled and expanded between the dates of November 1, 1986 and January 8, 1987. German Farmers has now extended its boundaries and moved into the remodeled building where it presently continues to serve the public. January 1, 1995 Scandinavian Mutual merged into German Farmers Mutual and the combined company is reinsured with Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance.  Back