<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM 9/30/96
BALANCE SHEET AND INCOME STATEMENT AND IS QUALIFIED IN INTS
ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE.
</LEGEND>
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                       141,522,920
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                      194,893,314
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                        199,485,168
<EQUITIES>                                  23,177,933
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                             374,734,721
<CASH>                                       2,093,291
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                          17,230,112
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                       9,730,398
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             426,995,345
<POLICY-LOSSES>                            210,944,758
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                         52,249,787
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                        2,908,604
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                    11,022,082
<OTHER-SE>                                 131,316,111
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               426,995,345
<PREMIUMS>                                 122,272,966
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         17,391,499
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                           1,221,042
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 211,365
<BENEFITS>                                  89,119,289
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                 23,748,604
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                        14,633,058
<INCOME-PRETAX>                             11,444,679
<INCOME-TAX>                                 2,462,801
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          8,981,878
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                 8,981,878
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .82
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .82
<RESERVE-OPEN>                             205,422,109
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        100,356,174
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                         (11,236,885)
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                          37,422,912
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                            49,825,516
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                            210,944,758
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                   (11,236,885)