On March 11, 1882, John Michael Duell from Bavaria, Germany organized a farm mutual insurance company to serve the area farmers around Rochester, Minnesota.  At the first meeting, which was held in Schuster's Hall in Rochester and conducted in the German language, it was decided to name the company Rochester Farmers Mutual Insurance Company.  The new company was authorized to conduct business in Rochester, Farmington, Viola, Eyota, Dover, Quincy, Marion, Cascade, Oronoco and High Forest townships in Olmsted County.  John Duell was elected President of the new company and served in that capacity for the next 25 years.

At the end of 1882, the company had 60 policies in force totaling $59,000 of insurance in force.  The premium receipts that year were $564.00.  After paying losses and expenses, the company was left with an asset figure of $86.04. 

In February of 1981 the company moved into its newly constructed office building at 2109 South Broadway in Rochester.  By 1982, after 100 years, the company had over $200,000,000 of insurance in force.

On January 1, 2001 Rochester Farmers Mutual Insurance began a new era by merging with Rollingstone Mutual Insurance Company.