Murray D. Lincoln

MURRAY D. LINCOLN is a founder of the Nationwide Insurance Companies of Columbus, Ohio. Under his leadership, from 1926 to 1964, Nationwide grew from a one-room office operation into one of the nation's largest multiple-line insurance organizations.

During his presidency, Nationwide, through more than a score of affiliated companies, branched into radio and TV broadcasting, housing and other real estate development, urban renewal, auto financing, mutual funds, and other enterprises.

Mr. Lincoln was one of the world's foremost authorities on - and exponents of – consumer and producer cooperatives. He served from 1941 to 1965 as president of the Cooperative League of the U.S.A., an educational federation of U.S. cooperative organizations. He was a director of the League from 1934 till his death in November 7, 1966.

He was the first executive secretary of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation. In this position, which he held from 1920 until 1948, he spearheaded the organization and development of farm bureau cooperatives and co-op outlets throughout Ohio.

A national farm leader, Mr. Lincoln long championed the cause of farmers. He's was a director of the American Farm Bureau Federation and a director of the Federal Farm Credit Board.

Mr. Lincoln was a founder of CARE, the world-wide relief agency, and served as president from its beginning in 1945 until 1957. He was chairman of the board of CARE from 1957 until his death.

In addition to his cooperative and insurance interests, Mr. Lincoln was been very active in public affairs. He served as chairman of President John F. Kennedy's "Food for Peace" task force and was a member of the national advisory council of the Peace Corps,

Prior to his retirement on April 2, 1964, Mr. Lincoln was president, general manager, and director of the four Nationwide Insurance Companies. He also was president and director of 13 Nationwide Insurance affiliates, general chairman and director of three others, chairman and director of another, and chairman and trustee of still another.

Mr. Lincoln was born April 18, 1892, on a small farm near Raynham, Massachusetts. He was the second son of Minot J. and Helen S. (Andrews) Lincoln whose family ultimately numbered five boys and one girl. Lincoln was fond of many activities and certainly dominated the space he filled, standing 6 foot 3 inches when fully grown.

Educated in the public schools at Raynham, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1914 from Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts).

Mr. Lincoln began his vigorous career in 1914 as a county agricultural agent in New London County Connecticut. He was one of the first agricultural agents in New England and the first in Connecticut.

In 1915, he moved to Brockton, Massachusetts, where he became agricultural representative of the Plymouth County Trust Company. There he launched the first cooperative milk distributing plant in New England.

On Oct. 9, 1915, he was married to the former Anne Hurst of Easton, Massachusetts.

On March 15, 1920, he was appointed executive secretary of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation (founded in 1919) headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Lincoln often told the story of how he formed the insurance firm. He started in the business because he thought farmers were paying too much for auto insurance. In April, 1926, Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company (Later a Nationwide company) was organized with $10,000 capital loaned by the Farm Bureau Federation. Lincoln was named its first secretary-treasurer and a director.

After serving the Farm Bureau Federation for 28 years, Mr. Lincoln resigned his post of executive secretary and general manager in 1948 to devote full time to the Nationwide Insurance Companies. However, he continued his efforts in behalf of farmers and their cooper