<ARTICLE> 7 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <PERIOD-TYPE> Year <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> Dec-31-1997 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 94,103,085 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 223,100 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 94,326,185 <CASH> 55,768 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 56,379 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 4,886,684 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 112,942,384 <POLICY-LOSSES> 42,004,851 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 21,673,009 <POLICY-OTHER> 2,091,180 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,838,058 <OTHER-SE> 42,222,726 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 112,942,384 <PREMIUMS> 36,326,894 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,996,261 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 25,093 <OTHER-INCOME> 6,942,473 <BENEFITS> 19,288,566 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 10,562,191 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 7,450,931 <INCOME-PRETAX> 10,989,033 <INCOME-TAX> 3,334,671 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 7,654,362 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 7,654,362 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.25 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.20 <RESERVE-OPEN> 37,111,846 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 23,564,325 <PROVISION-PRIOR> (4,275,759) <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 4,812,268 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 10,996,896 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 40,591,248 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 4,273,477